Helston Climate Action Group has issued a statement on proposals for a development on Hospital Cross.

Last week, a public consultation started on the proposed development of land at Hospital Cross with talk of McDonald's, Aldi and Range building on the site.

In a statement HCAG said:

"Helston Climate Action Group notes with dismay the recent press reports on proposals to develop Hospital Cross commercially and will oppose plans that we believe will cause long term harm to Helston's community and the environment.

"We are particularly alarmed at the lack of transparency by Helston Town Councillors in arranging this sale, as trustees of the Downsland Trust.

"We call on Helston Town Councillors to honour the commitments they made when declaring a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and declaring Helston an Earth Protector Town in December 2019 and reverse course on this sale."

Click here to see the full statement.

What happened to the climate emergency?

Helston Climate Action Group took up the following issues...

• Environmental Damage from the pouring of concrete and traffic.
• The land is thought to be a wildlife corridor linking the rich habitat of the Penrose Estate via Higher Nansloe Farm to that of the Helford Valley, and there appears to be nowhere else to compensate for the loss.
• Caution over out of town developments like this, fearing it could become a stranded asset with deserted, empty units.
• Existing businesses having to compete with the chains.

HCAG on the lack of transparency

The Trustees, who are all Helston Town Councillors, have conditionally agreed to the sale of this land in a deal that apparently includes the vacated supermarket building on Trengrouse Way, involving co-operation with Cornwall Council (which has also declared a Climate Emergency). The Downsland Trust holds no public meetings and is not subject to any public scrutiny.

If this deal is so beneficial to the people of Helston, why has there never been any consultation with our community? How can the trustees be sure that this deal is in the best interest of the trust's beneficiaries, the people of Helston, when they have never been consulted?

Is there any alternative?

There are numerous alternatives to the commercial development of this green space, including leaving it in peace to go on sequestering carbon and providing a home for wildlife.

A step towards localism and resilience could be achieved by establishing a community farm or orchard, for example, providing employment, training, and local produce while maintaining the land as a green space.

There are likely other great ideas out there in the community, which the Downsland Trust could discover if they consulted with the community.

Helston Climate Action Group added:

"We urge the Downsland Trust to immediately review this deal and reverse it if legally possible.

"We would encourage a moratorium on the sale of any Downsland Trust land until a wider discussion can be had about how the trust can be run in a way that is transparent, and truly considers the best interests of Helston."

Click here to see more from Helston Climate Action Group.

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