Helston has lost out on its claim for a new housing estate on the outskirts of the town after being accused of “land grabbing.”

Helston Town Council had argued that the new Park an Daras development, on the HX1 site between Gwealdues and Trewennack, should be part of Helston.

Currently, due to a quirk of boundaries, it is part of the Wendron parish - and here it will remain for now.

The Electoral Review Panel meeting voted to defer the decision until after the Cornwall Council election next May, contrary to the authority’s officer advice and the decision of the full council last year, as members it felt there was sufficient opposition.

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Helston town and Cornwall councillor Mike Thomas, who voted against the deferral, said: “This was a dynamic item as Helston Town Council was accused by a panel member of land grabbing.

“I vigorously objected to such terminology and made it clear that, in my opinion, Helston Town Council was proposing what it considered the best governance arrangement for the people living in an area whose postal address will be Helston and whose land transfer documents such as mortgages will include Helston in the legal paperwork.”