After many Cornwall councillors had opted for circa 35,000 new homes including many properly affordable, to be included in the Cornwall Local Plan for the period 2010-30, Phil Mason and a band of gullible/questionable councillors backed and pushed for 47,500 units (most of them unaffordable). The planning inspector listened carefully to the concerns of developers, and dismissed all concerns from local councillors, groups and individuals; then increased this number to 52,500 homes specifically "to accommodate second homes". Terry Grove-White (under Phil Mason) was responsible for the Preparation of the Local Plan, and the inspector, who flew in from Bristol to Newquay that day (thus conveniently avoiding our choked roads), was Simon Emerson. You can write to him at: C/o Simon Emerson Customer Quality Team, The Planning Inspectorate, 4/05 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6PN Or via the council at: Jo McCabe Cornwall Local Plan Programme Officer Room B3:02, Carrick House, Pydar Street,Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1EB programmeofficer@cornwall.gov.uk Phil Mason's new boss to work on all this development, is former development guru himself, John Betty, who has been brought in to "Place Shape" Cornwall; on the council website, he is listed as: Title: Strategic Director - Economic Growth & Development Directorate: Economic Growth & Development Service: N/A Spot Salary (that's minimum pay, to you and me): £ 142,814 pa Email: John.Betty@cornwall.gov.uk In other news: WADEBRIDGE - PICK & MIX https://cornwallreports.co.uk/planning-inspector-rejects-two-major-housing-projects-in-wadebridge/ www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/wadebridge-homes-high-court-challenge-517086 BUT www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/government-overturns-councils-refusal-95-668660 cornwallreports.co.uk/planning-inspector-gives-the-go-ahead-for-housing-on-former-sainsburys-site-wadebridge/ MASON ORDERS MORE TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO HELP ACCOMMODATE HUGE NEW HOUSING ESTATES piratefm.co.uk/news/latest-news/2479555/photos-traffic-light-bedlum-on-busy-cornish-road/ (Another 13 sets planned for Arch Hill/Green Lane/Morlaix Avenue in Truro) MOUSEHOLE & POLPERRO www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/mousehole-polperro-through-village-year-1087337 (If you're a second home owner, you should be proud - anyone still live in Mousehole???) NEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/a30-link-road-cawsand-bay-1083889 LESS POLICE BUT MORE POLICE TAX www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/cornwalls-police-boss-alison-hernandez-1082255 NHS WAR ZONE... IN CORNWALL www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/meet-nhs-heroes-cornwalls-ae-1027428 MORE NATIONAL CHAINS DISPLACING LOCAL STORES www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/starbucks-lidl-home-bargains-out-1082396 (Why do they still think more superstores will somehow bring life back to small Cornish market towns, that were once very lively before all this planning madness?!!) Regarding the NHS, a reply below from a Cornish MP to a constituent: (Don't expect any miracles from a Cornish MP, bless 'em) From: "DOUBLE, Steve" Date: 15 Jan 2018 10:38 am Subject: REPLY SDD/JM Dear Julie, Thank you for copying me into your group’s letter to Sarah Newton MP, and your further points on a variety of issues Cornwall faces. I’ll address the points you have raised in order: Planning issues I have a strong record of action representing local people’s concerns when people bring planning matters to me. I have not sat on the fence as past St Austell and Newquay MPs have, and have not been afraid to intervene with Cornwall Council, with the Planning Inspector or even with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when it comes to major developments that affect our constituency. While I am not part of the formal planning decision-making process, I have had much success fighting against inappropriate applications across Mid-Cornwall and will continue to do so where needed. Minor Injury Units The story you refer to is ‘fake news’ and has been debunked by politicians of all parties apart from the Labour Party, where the story originated. Cornwall Council and the NHS have also issued statements condemning this irresponsible misrepresentation of the facts. At a time when the NHS is facing the biggest pressures of the year this type of scaremongering is not helpful, especially when it is based on misleading information and pure speculation. Please be assured that I believe passionately that we need to retain our MIUs in both Newquay and St Austell and will vigorously fight to keep them should they ever come under a real threat of closure. NHS funding The Government is committed to a tax-funded NHS, free at the point of use, wherever and whenever you need it. As Ministers plan a new relationship with the EU, I know they will continue to ensure that the NHS is given the priority it deserves. Despite tight public finances, the Government has actively supported the NHS's own plan for the future. That is why it is increasing NHS spending by a minimum of £8 billion in real terms over the next five years. This will ensure that by the end of this Parliament, everyone will be able to access GP services at evenings and weekends. At the recent Budget, the Chancellor announced an additional £6.3 billion in funding for the NHS, £335 million will be spent this year on A&Es to prepare them for any winter pressure they may face. I wholeheartedly support the Government's increase to the NHS budget. However, the NHS is a public service like any other, and local areas must live within their agreed budgets, otherwise they are effectively unfairly depriving other parts of the NHS of much-needed resources. As I understand, the so-called 'capped expenditure process' is part of NHS England and NHS Improvement's financial planning, which examines how a small number of NHS areas could do more to balance their budgets, and remain on a financially sustainable footing for the long run. You may be happy to hear that the Commonwealth Fund, a respected healthcare think-tank which works to improve access to healthcare around the world rated the NHS as the best healthcare system in the world, in an authoritative, comparative study of healthcare systems in developed economies. Whilst there is no room for complacency, I am encouraged that the NHS is performing well, despite many years of difficult financial circumstances. More money is being invested in mental health than ever before, with an estimated record £11.4 billion this year and investment continues to rise. Additional mental health funding has been invested since April 2017, rising to £1 billion by 2020/21 for mental health to support crisis care and perinatal services, and respond to the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. For children and young people, £1.4 billion has been committed to transform mental health and eating disorder services over five years. In Cornwall we will have our first adolescent mental health unit built in Bodmin over the next few years. No longer will young people have to travel out of county to get the care they need. The NHS will earmark an extra £2.4 billion a year for GP services by 2020/21, a 14 per cent real terms increase. This investment includes a £500 million Sustainability and Transformation package to help GP practices add to the workforce and tackle workload. On top of this, to secure the best value for taxpayers, tough new financial controls have been introduced to cut down on waste in the NHS, including introducing caps for agency staff and management consultants, and introducing central procurement rules. I am glad to say that the limits on agency spending have saved the NHS roughly £1 billion between 2014 and 2016, and the NHS believes there is still significant progress to be made. I understand that the NHS is putting into practice the Getting it Right First Time scheme, first piloted by orthopaedic surgeon Professor Tim Briggs. In 2016, the Health Secretary announced new plans to reduce infection in the NHS and improve surgical practice, which aims to save the NHS a further £1.5 billion per year, which can be reinvested in patient care. In recognition of the pressures facing social care in local areas, the Chancellor has announced a package of measures in the recent budget which go even further to help the health and care system. Local Authorities in England will receive an additional £2 billion for social care over the next three years. This will help to ease pressures on the NHS by supporting more people to be discharged from hospital and into care as soon as they are ready. It is also important to note what’s happening in Cornwall. Since the creation of NHS Kernow, its budget has increased and is budgeted to continue to increase until 2021 at least. I hope this is helpful in addressing the points you raise and am always happy to provide further detail if required. Thanks once more for getting in touch and please do let me know if I can assist with anything else in the future and I will be more than happy to help. Kind regards, Steve Double Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay Constituency Office 3 Fore Street St Austell Cornwall PL25 5PX Constituency office 01726 829379 www.stevedouble.org.uk