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Higher Newham Farm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No doubt\nwhat the two key issues are this month! Higher Newham Farm has returned to the\nagenda. The applicant persists in the folly of seeking consent to create an\naccess for the development of this excellent farmland for housing from Truro\nby-pass (misleadingly dubbed \u2018Morlaix Avenue\u2019 ), which is also the A39 and A390\n\u2013 a twin \u2018A\u2019 road which was, until the early 2000s one of Cornwall\u2019s three\nTrunk\u2019 routes \u2013 rudely and stupidly downgraded as an austerity measure by the\nHighways Agency; no longer a \u2018Trunk\u2019 by name or designation, but most\ndefinitely a \u2018trunk\u2019 by function and by usage. I remain as opposed as I was\nwhen this notion first passed over the desks of planners and highways\nengineers, when I held it up for two out of three meetings of the Strategic\nPlanning Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is\nproposed is a development of 87 houses to sit on the crest of the hill opposite\nthe Calenick AONB. I have consistently advanced to view that access should be\ngained, if consent is granted, via Higher Newham Lane, which is the traditional\nentrance to the farm. It is privately owned and would need some improvement, as\nwell as a pedestrian crossing (much needed) across Newham Road, but these are\nminor expenses compared with creating an access to a double-A\u2019 Road which plays\nsuch a primary role in the traffic management scheme for Truro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higher Newham\nLane would also afford much better pedestrian access, especially using the\nRiverside Walk, and give residents direct access both to Tesco\u2019s and the town\ncentre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second\naspect of this scheme which is controversial is the insistence on building atop\nthe hill. I know of no settlement anywhere in Cornwall which is built on top of\na hill! Certainly, nothing in the vicinity of the Fal Estuary comes to mind.\nHowever, when I met a representative of the owners some time ago I suggested\nthat they should focus on creating a riverside village, with landing\nfacilities, accessed via Newham Road, using traditional designs to create the\nrequisite number of units but without making an assertive footprint on the\nlandscape. I also think this would be much more sheltered and pleasant and\nwould be attractive, and quite possibly, if well-designed, could complement the\nAONB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current\nproposals are garish and strident, imposingly indiscreet. With a five-year land\nsupply Cornwall is in a better position than previously to shape and direct \u2013\nand I think this is a sufficiently sensitive site, including best quality\nagri-land, to argue for discretion and constraints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Langarth:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a\nmajor consultation going on around proposals for an environmental impact\nassessment. There are many aspects to this \u2013 archaeological, drainage,\nbio-diversity, air quality \u2013 the range is holistic. Looking at the various\nsubject areas it is clear that trying to construct a major settlement on high\nmoorland which is also good quality agricultural land, which sits in the main\ndrainage catchment of the River Kenwyn, is not simply a matter of aesthetics\nand mitigation. It is primarily a matter of risk and whether, in the long run,\nthe risks are worth it, because the consequences could be serious and chronic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course,\napart from the possibility of damage to the integrity of the River Kenwyn,\nwhich is the lifeblood of Truro, and a source for the future of potable water,\nirrigation, power, bio-diversity and navigation, flowing as it does into the\nFal Estuary, the most protected estuary in Europe, there is the question of\nflood management \u2013 will the dam inserted in the late 1980s to capture land\ndrainage in times of high tide and heavy rainfall be sufficient to hold back\nthe run-off from up to 4000 houses. I have often raised the matter of why such\na development does not occasion a new Sewage Treatment Works, and we remain\ndissatisfied by explanations proffered from time to time by the South West\nWater Co. Ltd. Now, the volumes of water which would be generated must also be\nseen as a clear risk to a town whose centre mostly lies at sea level. I\u2019m not\nsure that can be a cost-effective mitigation sufficient to critically limit the\nrisk \u2013 therefore, value and practicability become key questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Resurfacing in town centre<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, we\nhave seen significant work in secondary streets in the vicinity of the\nCathedral which means they are now properly resurfaced. This is a major\ninvestment and will last for years to come. Work is ongoing in Boscawen Street\nand Lower Lemon Street \u2013 this is work which must be done, and I\u2019m glad to\nreport that the Head of Network, Kevin Bryant is committed to the wise course\nof working to very high standards. Work will be going on for some time yet,\nwith breaks for Christmas (and Remembrance Sunday).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. The Crescent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\nparticularly difficult planning battle was fought over proposals to construct\nextra dwellings over garages to the rear of a new development at The Crescent.\nFollowing a very strong campaign by residents, and with a strong decision from\nthe Planning Committee, the Appeal Decision letter has upheld the refusal. This\na a good result for the Conservation Area and strengthens the hand of those who\nseek to curb intrusive over-development <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Community hub<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the\nempty shops at the bottom of the Pydar Street site is being used as a community\nresource. It is attracting quite a lot of enquiries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Truro Day Centre and devolution <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truro City\nCouncil has won approval for the devolution of the Truro Day Centre in St\nClement Street. This means that, with some refurbishment and fitting out, it\nwill become a community facility. The estate transferred to Truro City Council\nin the past couple of years is quite significant \u2013 it includes the Library\n(opened under TCC management on 1^{st<\/sup> October), public toilets, Hendra\nSports Hall, Zebs, Coosebean Woods, and land at Beechwood Park. We are\nexpecting other assets in the near future. The announcement about the Day\nCentre is due soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n}

7. Patrick Taylor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, I\nam very sad to report that Patrick Taylor has died. He succumbed to cancer two\ndays ago. Patrick was brought up in Truro, son of John Taylor, the architect.\nHe trained as an architect and then developed a valuable career as a\nconservation specialist. It was in this capacity that he generously offered to\ncompile the materials for the Truro Local List. He had been working on this\nuntil he was diagnosed, when it was passed to Truro City Council. It is a\ncopious piece of work which will contribute to protecting a significant layer\nof Truro\u2019s built heritage when it is submitted alongside the Neighbourhood Plan\nnext year. I have lost a good friend and Truro has lost a man of expertise,\ngentle dedication and tenacity, and one who genuinely dedicated himself to\npractical work which will enhance the town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bert Biscoe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23^{rd<\/sup>\nOctober 2019<\/p>\n}

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