I READ with alarm (and dismay at the lack of forethought) the article in the Falmouth Packet of November 19 entitled “Swanpool Targeted by Developers”.

I would like to put forward an alternative suggestion that would allay the very real concerns highlighted on behalf of the people of Falmouth by the Falmouth Civic Society and Falmouth Bay Residents Association - and that would allow the preservation of this important AONB for the benefit of the people of Falmouth - albeit at the expense of the profits of Linden Homes.

Notwithstanding the important environmental and ecological issues raised in the article and the adverse impact to adjacent houses/residents, the location of the site for housing would create very real safety issues both for pedestrians/residents and children living on the proposed estate as the access is off Swanpool Road in a very dangerous area of the road, but also to vehicles travelling along this road or those vehicles accessing to and from the proposed estate itself. 

There is a huge need in Falmouth for affordable housing to allow residents to get onto the property ladder and for young families to have affordable homes to buy or rent in the town in which they were brought up and in which they work.

I believe serious consideration should be given to those areas of housing already in existence but not utilised, and would suggest the Pendra Loweth development at Goldenbank would meet the needs and views of all groups concerned. The development is a ready-made, ready-to-go housing estate of affordable housing (to buy or rent), in a safe setting close to town, beaches and local schools.

I know a good number of property owners on the Pendra Loweth site and the consensus is that with the landlord’s lack of interest in developing the site to provide the necessary leisure facilities that holiday-makers expect to enjoy in today’s holiday market, that the site is thus difficult to market and attract as a holiday destination and therefore languishes empty for the majority if not all of the year. Far better in their view to sell or rent the properties to local people and families who would benefit from a ready-made affordable housing development right in Falmouth.

I also understand that an amendment to the planning condition to residential status is not difficult and with acute housing shortage could be looked upon favourably by Cornwall Council.

It would be interesting to hear the views of the people of Falmouth to this suggestion and in order to take this matter further I would urge them to make their views known to town and county councillors.

Further, what are the views of our local MP, Sarah Newton with respect to the severe shortage of affordable housing in Falmouth, and does she support a ready-made development for affordable housing or instead prefer the building of an estate on the proposed site of AONB at Swanpool?

Name and address supplied