MP Andrew George joined St Ives campaigners in London to deliver a powerful message to deputy prime minister Angela Rayner regarding the Premier Inn planning decision.
Andrew George (second left) is pictured outside the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government with campiagners (left to right) Shelley Thornton, Michelle Curnow, Brian Selman, and Damon Thompson
The group handed over a weighty protest file and letters of objection at the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, following the decision to approve a new hotel on the site of the town’s last care home.
“The planning proposal is clearly contrary to the very carefully prepared St Ives Neighbourhood Development Plan,” said the MP. “Its size, scale, location, and impact on the adjoining neighbourhood are not supported by NDP policies.
“There is insufficient infrastructure, including limited and highly contested parking spaces within the area. The location does not lend itself to adequately accommodate such a proposal.
“St Ives has become overly dependent on tourism. There are few facilities — including care homes — available for local people, and the housing market operates almost as if locals shouldn’t live there anyway.”
He added: “For me, it’s an important matter of principle, that local communities which have carefully drawn up plans within the national planning policy framework should have their planning policies respected, and not blithely overridden as they have been in this case.
“I’m asking the DPM to use her ‘call-in’ powers. Though she would effectively be calling-in her own decision, it would be justified on the basis that it appears she may have been misled by her inspector.”
