Cllr David Saunby, Cornwall councillor and town councillor for the Trescobeas ward, says the decision means the town will struggle to support its new residents.
His claim comes after members of the strategic planning committee at County Hall on Thursday gave the go-ahead for 315 homes to be built on land west of the former Vospers garage site at Ponsharden, between Falmouth and Penryn.
The landowners Church Commissioners for England plan to build up to 315 properties, 280sqm of mixed use development, a new vehicular bridge over the Falmouth to Truro railway line, public open space and associated landscaping and engineering works on land But the decision to allow the development was condemned by many local councillors including David Saunby.
In a statement issued to the Packet he said it made him “very sad” and thing would only get worse because of the lack of facilities: “I fully understand that the church fields had been identified for housing, and that people need roofs over their heads,” he said.
“Especially affordable housing and rented accommodation which i fully support, but to press ahead with this development without first putting the infrastructure to cope with the extra numbers in place first makes me very sad.
“When our schools are at near or full capacity, doctors and dentists are struggling to cope with as it is now, so i dread to think what will happen in a few years’ time when this development has been developed, with the increasing numbers of school places, and the availability of doctors and dentists. It can only get worse.”
He said he was “near enough begging” for the infrastructure to be put in place first, before any development takes place, which, he said sadly fell on deaf ears of the majority of the committee who supported the application six votes to three.
