CHAOS AT TRAFALGAR

CHAOS AT TRAFALGAR!

Cornwall Councillor Rob Nolan has spoken of his disappointment and anger over news that Truro City Council has lost its appeal against Cornwall Council's grant of planning permission for a Park and Ride, a Waitrose, 90 Houses, Taste of Cornwall and a waste recycling centre on a green field site on the edge of the City.

Speaking on Laurence Reed's lunchtime Phone-In on Radio Cornwall, Rob said, "I'm disappointed, but not that surprised. It's very difficult to win against developers; it always feels like David and Goliath."

Rob went on to tell us, "I'm disappointed, but I'm also angry. Look at the mess they've made of Trafalgar roundabout, the gateway to Truro. We were promised the trees wouldn't be touched, now they're gone. People living by the roundabout have had to endure heavy machinery all night long and at weekends. And the queues of traffic into Truro have been terrible - last weekend the traffic stretched back to St Erme. Local businesses tell me that business is down, and no wonder!

"We have devastation at the roundabout, next there'll be devastation at the top of the hill as that lovely valley is ripped up and built over." Rob is particularly concerned about the threat to the Farmers' Market and independent shops in town, saying, "Tesco's and M&S can look after themselves, but we have a wonderful Farmers Market in town, exactly the sort of thing Mary Portas says we should be doing. Now they'll have to compete with the Taste of Cornwall, with its free parking and £5 million interest free loan from Waitrose, that they won't have to start to pay back for 5 years! How is that fair competition?"

Rob promised to continue to work to support the Farmers Market and town centre shops. He's also written on behalf of local residents and businesses, to Cornwall Council asking for a firm date when the night time and weekend road works will finish, so at least they can plan ahead.