Over 380 people have objected to G7 hotel's application to keep meeting rooms

More than 380 people have now objected to a controversial planning application from the Carbis Bay Hotel to retain buildings constructed without permission.

The hotel started work on the three buildings of meeting rooms after being selected by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to host the G7 summit in June.

There were protests on the beach and Cornwall Council advised the hotel to stop work after a deluge of complaints from people unhappy that the work was started without planning permission.

The hotel had claimed that the meeting rooms were required to host world leaders and delegates attending the G7 summit, but the Cabinet Office denied that they were needed.

A previous planning application for the site had been refused in 2018 and objectors called on the council to issue a stop notice on the works.

However the hotel owners then submitted a planning application for the works and the council said that it would allow that to go through the proper process before deciding if action needs to be taken.

The application was submitted in March and is still listed on the council's website as "awaiting decision". The next meeting of the West Sub-Area Planning Committee on Monday (July 26th) does not have the application listed on the agenda.

However, while the status of the application is unknown, objectors have continued to make comments on the council's planning portal.

There are now 383 objections on the website with no comments of support.

One of the most recent is from Mr D Harding who said that while he did not have any objection to the buildings themselves he did object to them being built without permission.

He said: "I do however object to the fact that they were built with no planning permission which sets a very dangerous precedent in Carbis Bay in particular and as such I think that the council have an excellent opportunity to set an example in this case.

"It often feels like the wealthy don’t need to abide by the rules but there is no need to be so blatant about it.

"I think that the council will do enormous damage to public trust and goodwill if they decide to approve this application and that the buildings should be removed and the land restored.

"The hotel should be made to swallow the cost of trying to ride roughshod over the rules that the rest of us have to follow".

Tracey Walker commented: "The destruction of this area has caused irreparable damage and the only solution moving forward is to reject the application and force the owners to remove the buildings and associated works and do everything in their power to return the site to as close to the original habitat as is possible".

Sarah White said: "The fact that the owner ignored the laws we all have the respect to abide by and proceeded building work after the destruction of flora and fauna to complete these ugly sheds, despite the council’s advice to stop building work, just shows how inept this planning system is".

She added: "If this application goes through despite all the objections it will make a laughing stock of the planning department and will set a precedent for uncontrolled building and people basically doing as they please".

In a statement previously issued by the hotel it said: “The investments in the estate over recent years, including our on-site Energy Centre, have cemented Carbis Bay’s position as one of the UK’s best and greenest destinations, in one of the most beautiful bays in the country.

“We appreciate that our passion and commitment to the environment are shared by many, and would like to address the misunderstanding on social media, and reassure our guests and neighbours about the area that we are working on at the moment.

“Part of our long-standing plans for the estate included clearing a small self-seeded scrubland area to the side of the hotel, and work on this area started several years ago. We can confirm this was not ancient woodland and there are no badger setts on this piece of land.

“We are working closely with a local landscaping team to increase planting in this area replacing the scrubland with a plethora of trees and plants more suited to the coastal environment.

“The South West Coast Path is fully open and there are no plans for this to be re-routed. Our commitment to this important route through the estate includes the upgrading of the existing surface to improve access and safe passage to the beach.

“Carbis Bay Estate is committed to sustainability, and dedicated to protecting the environment now, and for generations to come”.

Carbis Bay Hotel

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• carbis bay hotel
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