A 'Fantastic' opportunity to create a brand new public park with sweeping views over Falmouth has moved a step closer after the town council voted to recommend approval for a scheme to redevelop the old oil depot above the docks.

At a meeting of Falmouth Town Council's planning committee last night, councillors recommended approval for the application from Castle Drive Developments Ltd to build six 'underground' homes and create a public park on the site above Castle Drive.

Councillor John Spargo said he fully supported the scheme and described the creation of a new public park for Falmouth as 'fantastic'.

"I just think it's fantastic scheme," he said. "The older it gets the better it gets. The growth of planting will just improve and improve. I don't see any issue with that land being used. It's contaminated land but they are taking out the oil containers and I don't see that as an issue at all. I fully support it."

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The developers plan to remove the existing former oil tankers which are currently five to ten metres under the ground then clean up the site and in the area of the oil tankers they are proposing six houses cut into the slope all with green roofs of high design quality so they blend in.

Artists impression of how the site and hilltop park will look. Credit: Lavigne Lonsdale/Cornwall Council planning register

Artist's impression of how the site and hilltop park will look. Credit: Lavigne Lonsdale/Cornwall Council planning register

The remainder of the site, which is about 60% by area, will be used to create a new town park with a walk leading up to the redoubt and a viewing point with views all over Falmouth and the estuary.

"We hope it will be a fantastic asset for the local community on a permanent basis," agent for the developers Mark Scoot told the meeting. "The scheme will deliver very high quality open space. So far we have had five letters of support and no objectors. Does show to some extent the design quality of the scheme with its supporters noting the benefits of the town park."

The developers will set up the park and initially create a dowry for the long term maintenance of the park.

Artists impression of how the site and hilltop park will look. Credit: Lavigne Lonsdale/Cornwall Council planning register

Artist's impression of how the site and hilltop park will look. Credit: Lavigne Lonsdale/Cornwall Council planning register

"At the moment client is expecting to have to look after that park long term," said Mr Scoot. "But clearly we would like the town council to take it and are open to discussions if the scheme gets the go-ahead."

He said the park would be open on a permanent basis to pedestrians only and they could look at putting in gates to be closed at night if anti-social behaviour becomes a problem.

The proposed park will have great views over Falmouth

The proposed park will have great views over Falmouth

Councillor Geoffrey Evans raised concerns about speeding along the road and asked if they could put traffic calming in. "It's become a very fast road there," he said.

Mr Scoot said they would not have any problem at looking at putting in traffic calming.

"No problem at looking at calming would be happy to do that," he said.

Mayor Steve Eva said the initial presentation to the council last year was one of the best he'd ever sat through and he fully supported it.

"It's a piece of area at Castle Point that nobody can access," he said. "It would allow people to walk into a park enjoy the views from up the top and I believe this is something we should be supporting."

Councillors voted to recommend approval for the development and it will now go before Cornwall Council for a final decision.