Plans to build energy centre at new garden village near Truro given green light
But access to the viewing platform will be restricted
Plans to build an energy centre at the proposed Langarth Garden Village have been approved, but access to a viewing platform will be restricted due to security concerns.
Cornwall Council had applied for planning permission for the new centre which went before the council’s strategic planning committee this morning.
The new centre, located next to the park and ride at Langarth, will take renewable energy generated by the new garden village development – which could have up to 3,500 homes.
As well as having two transformers the centre will also have four battery units which will be able to store power generated from the site.
Langarth Garden Village is expected to have a variety of renewable energy sources which will include solar panels and geothermal power.
The energy will be used to supply the garden village itself but will also be used to power the nearby Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske.
Under the plans there are also proposals for a viewing platform which would be used to educate members of the public about renewable energy and how the centre will use the energy.
However committee members were concerned about the public having open access to the platform and questioned whether it could risk security at the site.
Committee member Sue Nicholas said she was concerned that “in this day and age you have people who go and blow places up” and feared that the energy centre could be a target.
She suggested that the platform should be removed to prevent there being any risk to security.
While she said she understood the need for the energy centre she added: “My concern is I would like to see the removal of the viewing platform, I don’t see the reason for that at all.”
Truro councillor David Harris, who is not a member of the committee, said he did not see the need for a viewing platform.
He said: “I am not quite sure that you can view other than a static building and a bit of noise. Is there really any point to the viewing platform?
“The officers say you can see what is going on but I would question that. This seems to be an unnecessary security risk and indeed an unnecessary cost.”
Council officers said that the viewing platform was designed to educate the public about renewable energy and was designed to fit in with the council’s declaration of a climate emergency and efforts to tackle climate change.
Committee member Fred Greenslade, who represents St Dennis, said that at the incinerator in his area the site is surrounded by security fencing and while the public can visit it has to be by appointment and under strict supervision.
He suggested that it would be better to have a similar set up for the viewing platform at the energy centre to improve safety and security.
Cllr Nicholas also raised concerns about a lattice telecommunications mast which was planned for the site. She said it would be better to have a mast which is disguised as a tree.
However her proposal to approve the plans with the condition that the viewing platform open by appointment only and to improve the appearance of the mast was lost with four votes in favour and nine against.
A proposal to approve the plans as recommended by officers, put forward by Graham Coad, was also lost with six in favour and seven against.
Eventually the committee did approve the plans with an added condition that the viewing platform is only accessible by appointment with unanimous approval.