FOLLOWING the refusal of planning permission for the development of Falmouth Wharf, Cornwall Council paid the owners of Falmouth wharf £30,000 or £35,000 compensation for their loss.

This must be something the council hoped would not be noticed.

I have grave concerns as a tax payer but also as a professional in the construction industry that this may not be a one off, how many other private developers were able to squeeze a sweetener from the limited council budget - were the owners of Falmouth Wharf given prior notice that they may receive compensation if they lost or was there the threat of legal action because of negligence within the council?

I would like to know what disciplinary action has been taken against the person(s) who lost the council £35,000 and why was a freedom of information act disclosure order ignored until a local councillor also expressed concerns.

It is vitally important that we now have full transparency on the facts and chronology of this case or I fear the council’s authority on planning matters could be eroded and this mud will stick for years to come.

My trust has been lost in a system that is supposed to benefit the community for which it serves and as I regularly make planning applications on behalf of clients I now would worry that they may be prejudiced if I put my name to this correspondence.

Concerned Falmouth resident (sent by email)