Putting a nearly two foot fence on top of a stone wall to stop passers by peering into an exclusive residential block on Falmouth's seafront has been recommended for refusal by the town council.

The Fitzroy, in Cliff Road, previously The Madeira hotel, is currently undergoing renovations after the building failed because of "major issues with the building facade" and residents had to moved out to temporary accommodation and the entire facade of the building removed.

While the renovation is taking place the developer, The Life Story group, wants to screen the building for privacy to stop pedestrians being able to see inside after threats were said to have been made to people living there by installing a 500mm wooden fence on top of the 1.2m stone wall for security and privacy reasons.

Situ8 said that as part of the rectification works to the building the landscaping was lost, due to the need to provide a site compound for the builder’s materials.

This, said Situ8, gave the opportunity to alter the previously agreed landscaping, adding: "The owner has been advised that the residents were always under-whelmed by the approved landscaping scheme. As a consequence, the applicant has re-designed a landscaping scheme, which has now been accepted through consultation with the residents at The Fitzroy."

In particular, the application is said to be "based upon health and safety issues for the residents," who were said to have received "threats and abuse."

The consultants stated: "This proposal is considered to be an improvement and will allow more useable areas for residents. The owner has also been advised of anti-social behaviour from outside the site boundary and there has been security breach issues at the site.

"The residents are overlooked by users of the footpath and have been subject to abuse and threats of theft."

 

The fence would be built on top of the stone wall. A wooden fence is currently there during reconstruction.

The fence would be built on top of the stone wall. A wooden fence is currently there during reconstruction.

 

But at a recent meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee, councillors pointed out that there had never been high wooden fences along along Cliff Road and allowing this one would set a precedent.

In their report to the committee the conservation officer said the building was in a conservation area and they had concerns that the proposed fence would impact on the character of the area and the nearby Falmouth House, a listed building.

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Falmouth mayor Steve Eva said they had not been given enough information to make a decision.

"I propose that we ask for an extension of time and wait for the planning officer's report and then make a decision," he said. "We just haven't got enough information at the moment."

But other councillors said they had had complaints about the fence on the road and there had never been fences along Cliff Road. Having them would change the character of the area and set a precedent.

The committee voted to recommend to refuse the application on the grounds that it would change the character of the area and would set a precedent.

The application to vary the conditions is still to be decided by Cornwall Council, under reference PA22/06123.