Charlotte MacKenzie today condemned more property moves by Cornwall Council which disregard community aspirations. The issue came to a head as the Council markets two former schools in the constituency:

(1) Devoran Old School. On Monday evening over 100 people attended a meeting called by Devoran Action Group. This group has been working to develop plans for the community to take over the village centre building and develop it as a community centre with a nursery, after school clubs, village shop, and other employment units. The Council backed this scheme by applying for it to be one of two possible community asset transfer pilots and access government funding. The outcome of this bid is not yet known, but those at the meeting on Monday evening want it to go ahead. However, while the Council is waiting for the outcome of the bid they have put the property on the open market, and say that – if Devoran Action Group cannot come up with a competitive bid and available funds by 11 February (next Thursday) – they will accept one of the other bids they have so far received.

(2) Old Richard Lander School site. This site was placed back on the market on 23 January 2010. It is one of very few brownfield sites in Truro, and one which local residents accept could be used for new social and affordable homes. The draft Truro and Threemilestone Action Plan – which has been through public consultation – ear-marked the site for housing development including 50 per cent affordable housing as it is currently public sector land. But the Council has now ignored it’s own plan and advertised the land as suitable for development as a ‘district’ retail centre, with limited housing, of which only 35 per cent would now be expected to be affordable.

Charlotte said:

“If Devoran old school was re-used as a community centre it could put the heart back into the local communities of Devoran, Point, and Penpol. 

“I know that people in the Truro ward that I represent as a councillor will be very upset at the prospect of more intensive retail development near what is known locally as the ‘Sainsburys roundabout’; and at the fact that this development could mean fewer social and affordable homes being delivered on what many people see as the most suitable and available local site.

“In January the Council agreed a draft document on community engagement. These two decisions show that document isn’t worth the paper it is written on. In both cases, the Council is well aware of what local people would prefer to see happen and they have chosen to disregard our views.”