‘Chaotic’ road safety fears over Callington houses plan

Cllr Andrew Long was speaking at a meeting of Cornwall Council’s east area planning committee against a proposal to build ten open market properties and four affordable houses on land near Haye Road in Callington.

A new highway access is proposed from Frogwell Road which would lead into the main site area where two rows of two-storey two and three bedroom dwellings are proposed.

The homes would be semi‐detached and have two parking spaces each. The application was recommended for approval by the council’s planning department

Cllr Eleanor Valdebouze, of Callington Town Council, said its planning committee originally objected to the application on the grounds of visibility, increased footfall for such a small area, including a lack of pavements, and added infrastructure. At a later meeting the committee narrowly agreed to go with the officer’s recommendation to allow it.

The site where the houses would be built (Pic: Cornwall Council)

Dan Roycroft, chartered town planner and agent for the application, said the proposals directly respond to the housing crisis in Cornwall. He said there would be no overlooking of other properties and the development would not impact an area of outstanding natural beauty. There would be road improvement measures put in place which were supported by the council’s own highways officer.

Callington councillor Andrew Long said he has sat on the Cornwall Council planning committee since 2009, overseeing over 1,400 plans and this was only the second application he had called to committee.

He asked for it to be refused because the location access is onto an already crowded minor road and there had been numerous opposition on the grounds of highway safety.

Where the houses would be built in Callington (Pic: Cornwall Council)

“On this occasion I believe that the highways officer is wrong on the impact,” he said. “Anyone who has visited the site during the day will have seen that it is chaotic at best. Cars are scattered everywhere as people desperately find places to park to access the health centre, with cars parking across the access point.

“The fact is the health centre is in the wrong place. It’s too small to deal with the amount of people in the area, but it didn’t get central government funding to move. It’s oversubscribed.”

He said the development, if allowed, would add to what many locals consider is a dangerous junction.

Cllr John Fitter said he had every sympathy with Cllr Long but agreed with other councillors that there was very little planning reason to refuse. The committee voted in favour to allow the development.