A senior councillor has urged a planning committee to reject plans to build homes close to a mine which is in the process of being reopened.

Bob Egerton, Cabinet member for economy and planning, warned that if the homes went ahead and the mine reopened there could be complaints about noise from the mining activities.

Cornwall Council’s west sub area planning committee is due to discuss the outline planning application to build 99 homes at South Crofty when it meets on Monday.

Alan Shoesmith has applied for the planning permission to build the homes on land off Dudnance Lane in Pool.

Planning officers have recommended that the application be refused saying that it is contrary to the minerals safeguarding document as it has not been shown that South Crofty Mine would be able to operate, particularly in relation to noise limits.

The applicant said in a supporting statement: “The proposed development will fulfil an important role in contributing towards the regeneration of Camborne, Pool and Redruth, particularly in terms of providing new homes and supporting economic growth in the local community.”

But Cllr Egerton urged councillors not to grant planning permission and made a declaration of interest around Cornwall Council being a “potential investor” in the mine.

He said: “If this application is approved, there will be a danger that, if the mine were to reopen, residents of the new development could object to the noise from the mine. With that risk hanging over the site, it is unlikely that the mine owners will be able to raise the necessary finance to dewater the mine and to start mining again. It is in the interests of Cornwall and its residents that we give the mine owners every opportunity to bring back to Cornwall an historic industry with all the economic benefits that would flow from that. Approval of this application could result in the large mineral resources that are present in

South Crofty mine being stranded and unavailable to us.”

Cllr Egerton said that the “prudent course of action is to refuse this application”.

But he said it did not rule out no development ever taking place and it would be better to assess the situation if and when the mine reopens.

The west sub area planning committee will meet in Camborne on Monday (Sept 23).