Cornwall Councillors have overwhelmingly refused two controversial local planning applications for the Carbis Bay Hotel and the site of the proposed Premier Inn.
Protesters against the Premier Inn plan make their feelings known at a town council planning committee meeting. Photograph: Tobi Carver/St Ives Times & Echo
Carbis Bay Hotel wanted to keep elements of unauthorised construction which had been created for the G7 Summit in 2021. And Whitbread wanted to build a new Premier Inn on the site of the former Trewidden Care Home on Trewidden Road.
The decisions follow months of campaigning on both schemes by local residents, the town council, and concerned community groups.
Both schemes were recommended for refusal by the town council’s planning committee and, Cornwall councillors Andrew Mitchell and Linda Taylor also requested that the applications be called to committee for decisions.
Passionate statements for refusal by local objectors and Mr Mitchell — speaking on behalf of the town council and as a local Cornwall councillor — helped the Committee make its decision.
“We give thanks to our local community for helping us fight this battle with Premier Inn,” said Mr Mitchell. “We are a town of united Davids against their Goliath.
“We will continue to defend what is important to us as a town, which is taking care of our beautiful coastline and townscape, and protecting local independent businesses.”
Chair of St Ives Town Council’s planning committee, Ken Messenger, said: “Cornwall councillors have listened to our local community’s voices. We have worked together to put forward a strong case, and we believe there are sound arguments to refuse both these schemes.
“We are a visitor economy, but the needs of local residents must be protected, and these proposals did not respect that.
“As a town council, our planning committee wholeheartedly rejected these proposals, and we will keep taking these difficult decisions in seeking to represent our communities.”
