Nearly half way through Cornwall Council’s consultation on land allocation, any hopes we may have had about democratising planning seem to have been blown out of the water.

Apparently our brave new world of community planning will be built on foundations laid by council officers offering nothing more than the illusion of so-called options.

For a major campus expansion the council offers one option - evicting a family that has worked the land for four generations.

We may have our say, but our straining voices will be as nothing to those of unelected officials and councillors from far flung reaches of Cornwall who care naught for Penryn’s fields.

Meanwhile, sandwiched between Falmouth’s industrial heart and its proud heritage, the alleged option of developing Ocean Bowl appears to be nothing of the sort.

While town councillors, residents, current students and Historic England opposed the plans, officers recommended it for approval anyway, even saying it will “improve the character and appearance” of the area.

Now we know planners won’t support those they should protect, the question is, why?