A THREAT that a guest house would close if proposal to demolish a bungalow and replace it with a bigger one was given the go-ahead have been branded "quite alarmist".

At a meeting of Falmouth town council's planning committee last week, councillors considered an application from the owners of a small 1960s bungalow called Santillana, in Sea View Road. The current owners want to demolish the existing three bedroom bungalow and replace it with a four bedroom one.

Councillors were told that the owners of Falmouth Bay bed and breakfast behind the site in Pennance Road were concerned that the new building across the road would block guest's sea view and they would not return.

Objector Barry Hilliard told the committee that the bungalow was a classic 1960s building and the size of the new one was 'disproportionate'.

He said The Falmouth Bay Guesthouse had made it very clear that if this proposal goes ahead "it is likely to be the death knell of their business if it is not viable."

"They have a view at the moment" he told the committee. "If the building is built it will take those views away."

"In the proposal it was made very clear from the people who stayed there, they would not be going again if that view went. They [the business owners] have said if the proposal is passed they will have to give consideration to closing their business."

He said the loss of the business would also be detrimental to the viability of the town as well as destroying all the neighbours' privacy.

But Cllr John Spargo warned fellow councillors not to be taken in by this claim. "What we've just heard is quite alarmist and people have to think very carefully about it if they are going to be influenced by it," he said, "They have to be very sure that the claim is real and I have to say across road is a considerable distance away. I can't see that blocking that much of a view."

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Falmouth mayor Steve Eva said he saw absolutely no reason not to support the application.

"I don't believe it will effect the business like that," he said. "I can understand someone making that comment trying to stop someone trying to improve their property." He said he thought it would be an improvement to the area.

The committee voted to recommended approval to Cornwall Council with three councillors voting for the application, one against and two abstentions.