MP says G7 summit should have no "negative impact" on Carbis Bay
He said any development should be removed afterwards and the site restored to its former state
The MP for St Ives says that the G7 summit this summer should have no “negative impact” on Carbis Bay.
Derek Thomas commented on the development of meeting rooms at the Carbis Bay Hotel which have been started without planning permission.
He says that if any development is needed for the summit then it should be removed afterwards and the site restored to its former state.
The hotel has since submitted a planning application after enforcement officers at Cornwall Council investigated the site and said that permission was required.
Cornwall Council has urged the hotel to stop the works on site until the planning application has been considered.
The hotel has said that the three pods being constructed will provide nine meeting rooms which will be used by world leaders attending the G7 summit in June.
And the Cabinet Office has said that the Government has not been involved in the planning application or provided any funding for the works.
However the development has been met with a chorus of protests from local people and environmentalists who say that it should not have gone ahead and has damaged a wildlife habitat.
Mr Thomas said on his Facebook page: “I believe that no G7 Summit development at Carbis Bay should leave a lasting negative impact.
“The G7 offers real opportunities for Cornwall and it is a privilege to be able to host the influential leaders of 10 major nations.
“From the outset, I’ve worked to ensure that the G7 Summit is not just a fleeting visit by world leaders but an opportunity to deliver a genuine, positive legacy for Cornwall.
“The Government too is committed to a sustainable summit that showcases Cornwall’s leading conservation work and green research.
“When you host a gathering of world leaders work will need to be done to ensure that the site (in this case the Carbis Bay Hotel) is safe, practical and can accommodate such a prestigious event."
He added: _“I recognise the genuine concern regarding the groundworks and any proposed development in this beautiful bay and are adamant that any work that needs to take place to accommodate the summit must be able to be removed and the area returned to its former state, including nature recovery._“Disruption is inevitable for people who enjoy this part of the coastline but we are working to ensure that all aspects of the G7 legacy are positive.”
Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives