Building 340 homes with only one access road on the edge of Helston could lead to a “ghetto area” cut off from the rest of the town.

This was the fear when Helston Town Council’s planning committee was asked to consider the outline planning application for this number of homes, plus buildings for offices and a medical practice, on land between Gwealdues and Trewennack.

The site actually falls within the Wendron parish, whose council will hold a separate meeting, but Helston has been asked for comments as the adjoining town.

More than a dozen members of the public were at the meeting, including those living in houses neighbouring the site. No one spoke on behalf of the developers, Jackamax Ltd.

Ian McDonald claimed it was “pretty obvious” that “most people” did not want the HX1 site, adding: “It’s got a lot of complaints from existing neighbours.”

He added: “The way the fields sit above the bungalows in the valley, I think [the houses] are going to be very overbearing and really affect people’s lives.”

Mr McDonald described the developers’ idea that roads would be created that could one day form part of a bypass around Trewennack as “a red herring.”

“Having attended meetings, Cornwall Council’s view was the only one [bypass] they would build is a short one, not a long one across the fields as proposed – and even a short one they couldn’t afford,” he claimed.

And he pointed out that “no one” would walk that distance to the town’s shops, saying: “With a town struggling to get back on its feet, do we want to encourage a development so far away from the town centre?”

Terrence Davison, from Tremenheere Avenue, had concerns about flooding, which were shared by a number of those attending the meeting.

One of his neighbours said for the last 12 or 13 years he had to sweep water away from his door, while Franklyn Moyle said: “If his garage hadn’t flooded last winter, our house would have flooded.”

The developers have proposed a series of sunken areas to be included, which would fill with water during heavy rain to prevent flooding. However, town councillor Ronnie Williams, who is not on the planning committee, said: “Those ponds will be bottomless with mud. You’re going to have tragedy; you’re going to have death.

“For young people in affordable houses, bringing their young family on, they are going to lose their children. We won’t be able to fence these off.”

Cornwall Councillor Judith Haycock, who is also chairman of the Helston Town Framework group, reminded councillors that her group had actually recommended the HX2 site, near to Helston Business Park, as the preferred area for development.

This was after speaking to members of the public and considering its close proximity to primary schools and supermarkets.

She added concerns over the affordable homes promised, saying because the site was within Wendron then people within this parish would be able to apply first. If there was not enough take-up they would be offered to those living in neighbouring parishes – which did not just include Helston.

“It says ‘shared’ between the two, but nothing specific. It worries me it will reduce the affordable housing for Helston,” she explained.

Mrs Haycock also revealed that pre-planning application advice had been sought from officers at Cornwall Council, over the HX2 site.

The planning committee then took up the discussion, with mayor Mike Thomas saying: “My concern is, from my perspective it doesn’t link with Helston. It effectively creates a suburban area or ghetto area with the town, where Tesco becomes the centre.”

Although there were footways to adjoining parts of Helston, there were no road links. Although developers said they wanted to avoid creating rat runs, Mr Thomas feared this could create problems for emergency services, who would have to drive a long way around the estate to get to the far end, opposite the entrance road.

He added: “My personal feeling is this is a fantastic development for the future. As far as I can see, it’s too early. The one at the moment we should be focussing on is HX2.”

Planning members Mark Upton, John Boase, Mike Thomas and John Martin unanimously recommended refusal on the grounds that under the local structure planning policy this was not identified as the preferred development site in Helston; members also had concerns about highways access for emergency vehicles, which could also lead to a disconnect from the town, and health and safety over the flood alleviation scheme.

Michael Griffin, project director for the Helston North East Partnership, promoting the HX1 site, said: “Helston Town Council’s opposition to our planning application for up to 340 new homes on the HX1 site, on the outskirts of the town, is a missed opportunity by the council to support something positive for the future of the town.

“The decision is disappointing, particularly as the council unanimously supported the development of this site in December 2013 and the need for more facilities on this side of Helston.

“This lack of support will be even more of a disappointment to the 650 families in housing need in the area. Since 2010 just 26 affordable homes have been provided in Helston – our scheme will deliver up to 136 badly needed affordable homes for local people, a 500 per cent improvement.

“The public consultation undertaken earlier this year demonstrated that people living near this site did not want direct road access through their estate, which would have created ‘rat runs’ for motorists. The amount of public open space far exceeds the minimum requirements and our flood alleviation proposals will actually improve the situation for existing local residents without posing any risk to the public.

“Members of the town council seem to acknowledge that this site will be developed at some point in the future. We believe that there is an urgent need for development to come forward now to provide the new homes and facilities that Helston so badly needs.”