Beach protest over controversial meeting rooms at Cornwall's G7 hotel
The Carbis Bay Hotel is appealing against an enforcement notice to remove them
Last updated 15th Nov 2021
Dozens of activists have taken to the beach, angry over those controversial meeting rooms at the Cornish hotel which hosted the G7 Summit.
The Carbis Bay Hotel was served with an enforcement notice to remove them after starting building work without planning permission, but has launched an appeal.
Campaigners gathered on the sand below the hotel on Remembrance Sunday, claiming the construction has destroyed a "rare piece of coastal habitat'.
16-year-olds Ida and Lily from Hayle, who challenged Environment Secretary George Eustice during the G7, were among the speakers.
They were joined by local singer Bailey Tomkinson, who performed the track she penned on the G7 and her anger about the climate crisis.
She and other campaigners wore red to connect with the pain and anger she expresses in the track 'Bright Red'...
The Carbis Bay Hotel began work on the meeting rooms ahead of the G7 Summit and, at the time, did not having planning permission.
Bosses submitted a retrospective application but when they withdrew that, Cornwall Council issued an enforcement notice ordering them to be removed.
Ahead of the protest, organisers accused the hotel of "ongoing efforts to evade responsibility and to profit from its actions".
They said: "The Hotel has felled trees, erased topsoil, poured concrete and erected buildings – all without planning permission and having been advised by the planning authorities to desist.
"If Carbis Bay Hotel succeeds in its latest effort to overturn a Planning Enforcement Notice, it means they will not face any consequences for their destruction of coastal habitat and disregard for planning rules.
"Carbis Bay Hotel clearly wants more buildings with magnificent views regardless of the cost to the environment and the feelings of the local community.
"This development benefits the pockets of a wealthy few and degrades our coastline and community".
They added: "It also shows a shocking disconnect between the radical response our climate and ecological crisis demands and business as usual on the ground".
When asked what it would be doing about the enforcement action The Carbis Bay Hotel said in a statement: “We have no comment to make at this time".
Bosses have previously said the area of land that was cleared to make way for the rooms was scrubland and insisted that they are committed to the environment.
In a previous statement they 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".
The council's enforcement notice ordered the buildings to be removed and the land returned to its original estate within six months, however the Carbis Bay Hotel have lodged an appeal.