Cornwall Green Party has called for the Downsland Trust and Helston town councillors to urgently reconsider plans for the commercial development of Hospital Cross.

The party says it would seriously harm the natural environment, increase carbon emissions, damage town-centre businesses and bring no benefits to the local community.

The roughly two hectares of undeveloped grassland at Helston Cross sequesters a large amount of carbon.

Using figures provided by Duchy College, Helston Climate Action Group estimates this at between 300 and 1000 tons – and this could be even more with careful management of the land to improve the soil quality.

"Covering this land with concrete and tarmac would inevitably add significantly to Helston's carbon emissions, on top of this sequestration loss," the party said.

The green space at Hospital Cross is also part of a wildlife corridor between the Penrose Estate and the Helford Valley and is home to a rich range of animal, bird and plant life.

Speaking for Cornwall Green Party, Tom Scott said:

"In 2019, Helston Town Council declared a Climate Emergency and signed up to be an Earth Protector Town. Helston town councillors are all trustees of the Downsland Trust, and it's very hard to see how

they or the Trust see the destruction of the green space at Hospital Cross as in any way compatible with these commitments.

"If they're serious about cutting emissions and protecting the natural environment, they need to reverse this destructive decision, made behind closed doors and with no proper consultation.

"Now that Cornwall is developing a Nature Recovery Plan, the destruction of green spaces and wildlife corridors is the very last thing we should be contemplating."

Katharine Lewis, a member of Helston Climate Action Group who will be standing for Cornwall Green Party in the Cornwall Council elections in May, added:

"Helston Climate Action Group, a team of dedicated volunteers from the local community, has worked incredibly hard over the past two years to turn our town's climate aspirations into reality. This decision risks undermining everything we have achieved and making our already challenging task even harder."

Local residents have until 25th January to give their views on the proposed Hospital Cross "development" via a so-called "public consultation" exercise organised by the developers behind the scheme, here.

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