Our famous seaside town is being torn apart by ‘monstrous’ eyesore that will dwarf historic skyline
PROUD residents of a picturesque seaside town are 'dismayed' after plans for a 'monstrous' hotel were approved.
The 90-room Premier Inn will replace St Ives' last remaining residential care home.
Despite Cornwall Council initially refusing planning permission, parent company Whitbread has now been given the green light after it appealed the decision.
The planning inspector said: "The juxtaposition of the new building in relation to neighbouring properties would be such that a building of the size and scale proposed would not be unduly harmful to the immediate townscape within which it sits."
The decision has been met by anger from Town Council and a Cornwall councillor.
Councillor Ken Messenger, deputy mayor and chair of the town's council's planning committee, said: "We are totally shocked and dismayed by this decision.
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"I would personally like to pay tribute to the campaign team - you have been fantastic but as a local elected representative, I wonder what is the point of a planning process where the community's views and 600 objections are not taken into account in such an important decision.
"Local democracy has been thrown out of the window."
Councillor Andrew Mitchell, who represents St Ives West & Towednack on Cornwall Council, said: "The town council was unanimous in its resolve against this development.
"I have never seen such a well-organised and dedicated group that mounted a brilliant case against this outrageous over-development.
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"We now need to work together to make the best of this poor development and at least be vigilant and ensure the company delivers on its promises in terms of jobs and good local management."
The group of 600 who fought against the hotel said the build would "ruin the landscape and streetscene of this charming fishing village".
They also raised the question of where the 39 residents of the Cornwallis Nursing Home would be moved to.
"Why should those people have to move to Penzance or elsewhere in Cornwall? St Ives desperately needs care places for its elderly population," the campaign read.
The group added: "St Ives suffers from over-tourism in the summer months and lacks the infrastructure and permanent housing for residents to cope. This hotel offers nothing that doesn’t exist already."
They also complained that the hotel would cause more congestion and believed the building would result in "a significant loss of privacy".
The protesters, who called themselves the 'Davids' in the fight against 'Goliath', also pointed out that the 90-room hotel will only have 20 parking spaces.
St Ives is known for being one of the UK's most picturesque harbour resorts and is popular with tourists as a holiday destination.
Under the approved plans, the care home will be demolished and replaced with the hotel, landscaping, car parking and other infrastructure.
Louise Woodruff, from Whitbread, said: "We are very pleased that our planning appeal to bring Premier Inn to St Ives has been allowed.
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"We will now work with the owner of Trewidden Care Home to complete the purchase of the site.
"This process is expected to take at least six months, enabling time for Cornwallis Care to support the residents and their families to transition to appropriate accommodation within their group."
