The Haven Chronicle

Well, its the first week of September and we're still monitoring the Haven Jetty Company to see if they want to appeal the NCDC planning decision, or more probably, waste the time and energy of our taxpayer pounds on a "new" appeal...17 July 2007 - Well, its short and simple, the NCDC Planning Committee voted 10-4 AGAINST the Haven Jetty planning application. Are we jubiliant? No, we're pragmatic and wary, we expect an attempt at a planning appeal, or yet another "tweaked" application. But the real winner here was DEMOCRACY - Freedom of Information and a vigilant group of citizens worked together to get the message across to our elected representatives. Here's our "statement" on the issue as it stands...14 JULY 2007 - After months of work and expense by The Crugmeer Society, it appears that the NCDC planners have finally gotten the message - a recommendation for refusal, though only on transport grounds and still trying to ignore national planning mandates concerning AONB issues. We are still keeping a wary eye on all, but wish to thank MP Dan Rogerson, and the hundreds of supporters of our campaign - its not over until we get everyone thinking long-term on those issues important to Cornwall - quality affordable housing and quality jobs for locals folks - and as always, a consideration for Cornish culture! 23 June 2007 - Is there anyone in Britain who hasn't heard in the national press about the recent threats to celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein and others by radical Cornish separatists? From nebulous threats to graffitti sprayed walls, these supposed Cornish "patriots" are trying to intimidate the public instead of influence the public by proper behaviour. Attempts by mis-guided individuals to "piggyback" their agenda onto our Crugmeer campaign are not appreciated, wanted or condoned. Recent defacement of the World War II buildings belonging to the Prideaux-Brune Estate are emblematic of actions that we despise especially. The Crugmeer Society is for the constructive discussion, preservation and development of all things Cornish that we enjoy - be it lovely old farm buildings or great old stories. But we do not and will not be bullied by extremists or attempts by local authorities to bend civil rights and laws...as we say on the home page, "Welcome to a free speech zone" guaranteed by the British constitution...and that includes Cornwall! Meanwhile, on more pragmatic issues...the Crugmeer Farm...after plowing still further through documents and departments with official letters flying right and left, we've come to a simple analysis and conclusion...exactly WHO is going to pay for all the infrastructure costs associated with this proposed project?! Millions are required for the necessary electrical, road and water - to name a few - upgrades...stay tuned for more! 15 MAY 07 - We've got a positive response to our letter to HRH Prince of Wales, so we'll let our "elected" government in North Cornwall ponder that, while of course that self-same government replied in a lackadaiscal manner to questions from MP Dan Rogerson. Conversations with experienced current planners and retired planners throughout Britain have provided one recurrent comment - they've never heard of a planning application with this much opposition receiving "approval" by a planning officer. Meanwhile, the Senior Planning Officer has decided that he knows better than English Heritage about what development affects nearby vernacular housing. We think English Heritage may have a different view on that. Apparently, very stern measures may be necessary to focus local government's attention on following the law and planning regulations. 9 APR 07 - Ah yes, Easter Holiday is here and once again, Crugmeer is without water as thousands of visitors flock to the area, overloading the water supplies of Southwest Water...have NCDC planners considered this and Haven Jetty's planning application - or does the "world class" Haven Jetty company have a magical water making machine for their proposed development???... 2 APR 07 - The Crugmeer Society has had numerous "queries" about its membership, and who its members were, usually expressed in terms of "they must be second home owners", or they're "trouble-making holiday makers"...so in that tone we provide a link to the official British government site on both British and EU Human Rights law...welcome to democracy!!! Freedom of speech and assembly, still a BRITISH RIGHT! 31 MARCH 07 - We've had our meeting with MP Dan Rogerson and he's agreed to look into NCDC's handling of the Haven Jetty application! But we're not done with this, we've hired an independent, professional and unbiased planning consultancy to produce the report that we the taxpayers expect NCDC planners to produce, so we've paid twice - get a copy here (requires Adobe Reader)...and we're getting more legal advice to boot. 16 Mar 07 - Click here to see what the Cornwall AONB Director had to say about Haven Jetty's planning application! ...4 Mar 07 - The Cornish media begins to step up to the plate as PIRATE FM, BBC CORNWALL and the Cornish Guardian newspaper run stories on the Crugmeer controversy...7:PM 27 FEBRUARY 07 - NCDC PLANNING COMMITTEE DEFERS ITS DECISION ON THE CRUGMEER APPLICATION PENDING A "PROPER" HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SURVEY OF THE SINGLE LANE ROAD LEADING TO AND THROUGH CRUGMEER!!! 27 FEBRUARY 07 Here's our united letter of objection to the NCDC Planning Committee...click here! 26 Feb 07: Even though there are OVER 125 OBJECTIONS against the proposed planning application versus 34 "letters of support" (virtually all with links to the proposed project), the NCDC Planner recommends APPROVAL of the application...no doubt, there's "democracy" in Cornwall...12 Feb. 07: From the "oh, we forgot to tell you" file, the Senior Planner at NCDC in charge of this application said, "Oh, I didn't think it was a good idea to do neighbour consultations as people get emotional about issues like this". 4 Feb 07: Check out the LANDSCAPE page as we show the world in ultra high-resolution imagery "What's Going On!" 1 Feb 07! The Haven Jetty Co. presents its case in Trevone - and still basic questions couldn't be answered. Is it only 65 people, as its representative maintained, or 150 as the planning application says or if you read the Cornish Guardian from earlier in January 2007 when this same representative said this would be a 6,000 sq. ft. space with "groups of 25" - how many groups and when? And how would this be supplying local jobs when the construction firms are from outside Padstow/Trevone/Crugmeer area? And the fact that this is a "green" project when the intended visitors are flying into Cornwall (this is all in the planning application!). 27 January 07 Want to see satellite imagery of the landscape changes around Crugmeer since 1989? Go here to our new LANDSCAPE page! 25 January 2007 Friends of the Earth West Cornwall have joined on to our fight and put in a resounding objection to this project?! A BIG THANKS TO FOEWC and FOE Camel!!!

The peaceful hamlet of Crugmeer, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is under threat. How lightly developers treat our national heritage, encroaching on it bit by bit until, eventually, we will have lost it completely.

Development in AONB areas should only be permitted if it is in the proven national interest and no alternatives are available. (Policy ENV1). Is this the case here?

For the second time in a year, developers propose a large new building, described as a Business Innovation Centre (a non-residential venue for corporate meetings and challenging activities like surfing, cycling and walking). The precious Crugmeer barns will become small office units. The drainage plans assume 50 people will use the site daily and up to 150 on occasion. This number of people dwarfs the existing population of the hamlet. The height of the building may be lower than in the original proposal, but the impact on the environment comes from the number of people – and that proposed number is huge for a small hamlet like Crugmeer.

And why will the new building be at a different angle from the barns it replaces? It is neatly aligned with Great Crugmeer House. From the aerial plan you can see that this results in a very oddly angled second courtyard which will be barely useable. And it doesn’t even face the sea, so the beautiful coastal site seems almost irrelevant. Might there be potential, in the longer term, for an even larger development that includes Great Crugmeer House (which is in the same ownership)? Planning applications in stages are not unknown.

And what about access? Crugmeer is reached by a narrow, partly single track lane. Inadequate access was one reason the Planning Committee rejected the proposals last July. Office staff won’t come by minibus. And even The Green Travel Plan, offering minibuses for delegates, could not ultimately be enforced - even if the company had any experience of running a bus service. Once the centre is open, it may turn out that people will only come if there is car parking. And when the site serves 150 people, parking will surely have to be provided in neighbouring fields. There’s also potential impact on our neighbouring village of Trevone: additional traffic along the old steep farm track from Crugmeer as local people or office staff avoid the minibuses at peak times. Wider access from the B3276 Padstow junction will also tend to encourage more people to explore the narrow lanes.

Why do they want such a large and costly centre for teams of mainly 25 people? A smaller building, more suitable to an AONB, would do. Even a creative adaptation of the barns? Will this large new building have an alternative use as a venue for parties or other entertainment? Will it be licensed for alcohol and dancing?

The Developers also imply that the Haven will not be open in the peak holiday season, but hidden in the Transport Statement we learn that 'During the peak period the facility will be open for smaller conferences and more local meetings for which there is an identified lack of space in Cornwall'. Some of these more local meetings are probably weddings and parties. The traffic really will be an issue with big events like that competing with the traffic to the beach car park, not only creating more misery for tourists on holiday, but local agricultural traffic as well.

Furthermore, this claims to be a "green”. Yet 1000 delegates will fly in from Europe to be driven in and out of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, increasing pollution and degradation of the landscape. It will also further strain Crugmeer’s already inadequate water supply, which often fails even at existing levels of usage.

Also, the developers imply that the nearby colony of endangered corn buntings, as well as bats, owls and other wildlife will not be affected. This is not true - a significant growth in the number of people on a daily basis using the Crugmeer and Porthmissen area, and increased noise and light pollution will greatly increase the potential for disturbance to these endangered birds, and to other wildlife particularly during the breeding season. Contact the RSPB Local office for their reaction here.

Finally, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then a good map of the situation is worth a few million. Here's a map out-lining the sensitive scientific, cultural and historical landscape around Crugmeer...click on the image to take you over to the "Landscape" page for even more on this!

The Haven Jetty Co. Controversy: Our History