An 'absolutely dire' proposed development of six 'stilted' houses on land at Swanpool has failed to gain the support of Falmouth Town Council.

Members of the town's planning committee have opposed the plans, on a former quarry site next to Swanpool Road, overlooking the lake, due to overlooking issues and the loss of greenbelt, as well as the possible precedent it would set for future development in that area, and concerns for protected trees.

Councillor Diana Merrett said: "I think this is absolutely dire, to be quite frank.

"If you go back in the history it was considered to be for ten stilted houses, sustainable houses, and it's gone down to six. They've got a tree preservation order on this site and one of the Monterey trees is in the middle of house number six."

Councillor Steve Gray added: "That side of the road is untouched, and once you put something there you can forget about the greenbelt to the left, because they will fill that. Once you have got two houses there, that's it."

Another concern that was raised was the possibility of old mine adits at the site of the proposed development, although surveyors had only been able to find one, which Councillor Grenville Chappel dubbed "Redruth syndrome."

Having already objected to development on the other side of Swanpool due to its detrimental impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, councillors decided it would be acceptable to refuse this application on similar grounds.