ANPR camera on beach in Cornwall planning application decision

Back in August, a planning application, submitted by Citipark, proposed to install a car park management system featuring an ANPR camera, associated signage and Pay and Display machine, at Maenporth Beach on the beach side of the car park. 

The proposal was widely criticised by locals at the time in the comments section of Cornwall Council’s planning portal where it was posted. 

One of the first comments on the site was by Christopher Kinder who said: “This beach sits in an ANOB and with an ugly camera pole proposed right in the middle of the beach.

“A pole anywhere to be an eyesore.

“This beach is an amenity 12 months of the year for local Cornish residents for dog walking to fishing and beach sports exercise attracting an important tourist industry that the cafe benefits from all summer long.

“Imposing parking charges will only exacerbate parking elsewhere detrimental to traffic flow and increased dangers and potential accidents.”

Mr Petet Longbottom also said: “Awful proposal which will drive locals away from using the beach and cafe, cause more dangerous road parking and ruin the area.”

On Tuesday, January 9, Cornwall Council's planning officers refused the proposal, describing it as 'visually intrusive' and failing to enhance the landscape's character or scenic beauty. 

Explaining its refusal of the proposal, Cornwall Council's planning officers stated: "The proposed signage and 4m camera and pole would represent incongrous and visually intrusive urban features which would fail to conserve or enhance the landscape character and scenic beauty of the Cornwall National Landscape (AONB).

"The application is therefore contrary to Paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2023, Policies 2, 12 and 23 of the Cornwall Local Plan Strategic Policies 2010-2030 and Policy PD-P11 of the The Cornwall National Landscapes (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) Management Plan 2022-2027."