Below is one letter from a local parish councillor questioning the whole Langarth strategy in writing to the new Council Leader, Julian German.

Below this is a question from a Truro councillor re. Southwest Water's admission in 2017 that they had reached capacity, and the lack of sewerage infrastructure at Newham, now and into the future.

It seems that Cornwall Council planners live in a parallel world; either that or there is something more sinister at work, facilitated by the likes of development guru, John Betty, who's expensive temporary employment at Cornwall Council seems to be a mystery to most apart from the very discreet new CEO, Kate Kennally.

The words transparency, integrity, accountability, honesty, responsibility and decency seem to be missing from our modern Unitary Authority and the great new leaders therein... Costing us millions of £££ in additional council taxes and debt, to appease a system that seems morally bankrupt, short-term, shady and private profit-driven, at the expense of communities up and down the duchy.

From: Parish Councillor (and former planning officer)
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2019 8:47:35 AM
To: julian.german@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk 
Cc: bobegerton@cornwallcouncillors.org.uk; kkennally@cornwall.gov.uk
Subject: LANGARTH Development

Mr. German,

Since the conception of the development of Langarth - both stadium and housing, I have had grave misgivings. Each aspect of the development, every mention within the local papers and radio stations, even in personal conversations, has brought to my mind the conviction that this has been ill thought out.

Planning seems to be brought to the fore in such matters: it is a matter in which I take great interest, having begun my working life with Penryn Borough Council, and continued it with County Planning (upon Local Government Re-organisation) in the early seventies. The planning of this era is so far removed in principles and standards from that time - no longer catering for NEEDS , but GREED, and it appals me! The planning of today also seems to put the cart before the horse, although it is evident that a carrot often leads the way. So often this results in a LACK of planning!

Is it impossible for the officers of Cornwall Council (our/my Council) who are public servants in our pay, to realise that there must be priorities in the provision of an infrastructure which can serve the public ADEQUATELY (we do not need more - but we certainly are not getting that service). The local schools, health and care services, emergency services, highways and so many others plod on, in an effort to provide the best they can under inadequate conditions because OUR CORNWALL is overpopulated and under funded now. It is scheduled to worsen if the brakes aren't applied, to ridiculously large developments, by brave and responsible Councillors. Officers of the Council must be made to realise that once put into place, over development of Cornwall without first catering for a suitable infrastructure will hang around the neck of our County and its residents like a stinking albatross.

Something has to rein in this cavalier development of Langarth. I would question the need of both the dwellings and the embarrassing stadium. To this end, I would demand (I was brought up to merely respectfully ask - but that's nowhere near strong enough) a PUBLIC ENQUIRY into this matter.

SINCERELY
(Name withheld)

PENNON AGM - 25th July, 2019 - 2.30pm at Exeter

QUESTION fromTruro CLLR. MRS ARMOREL CARLYON By now many of the shareholders present today will be familiar with my annual questions in respect of LANGARTH which has planning permission for 2700 houses. In my opinion the site is unsustainable and at its farthest point is some 4 and half miles from the City of Truro and the Truro Newham Treatment works. Infrastructure is non-existent and the first two essential matters which concern me are Public Health issues - 1. The safe disposal of surface water run off to avoid the flooding of Truro and the village of Calenick both of which have a history of flooding 2. The provision of miles of pipe to dispose of the foul sewage and the complete update of the Truro Newham Treatment works which were declared over capacity in June 2017. On Tuesday evening I attended a meeting of the review of the Truro and Kenwyn Neighbourhood Plan. I enquired of the Programme Manager concerning the progress being made. He confirmed that the Langarth developers(there are a number of them) had signed an agreement with South West Water in respect of the the necessary pipework which is now planned to drain down to tanks at the bottom of Penventinnie Lane and would then be pumped up to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske - over the brow of the hill and down the other side of the valley into the Calenick pumping station for onward transmission to the Truro Newham Treatment works. My next question to him was “have you got this in writing?” To which he replied - “No, the agreement has been made between the developers and South West Water. So my questions today are as follows - May I receive confirmation that the Agreement with South West Water has now been signed and dated by all the developers involved in the development of the Langarth site including Cornwall Council? The anticipated start date and timescale of the necessary improvement works to the Truro Newham Treatment works, the laying of pipe work and the building and upgrading of the pumping stations? What is the total cost of the scheme and the agreed costs apportioned to the developers and to whom will South West Water be sending the Bill for payment? Armorel Carlyon (Cllr. Mrs.) 24th July, 2019