Forrabury and Minster Parish Council has joined Marazion Town Council in expressing frustration over Cornwall Council’s failure to enforce planning regulations. Their statement highlights that too often, local objections are ignored, and unauthorised developments go unchecked.
The Council believe planning enforcement must be strengthened to protect our community and ensure fair decision-making.
Their statement reads:
Forrabury and Minster Parish Council has joined a growing number of town and parish
councils across Cornwall in expressing serious concerns over the continued failings of
Cornwall Council’s Planning and Enforcement Department. At a recent meeting, the Council
considered and supported a motion of no confidence in the department, reflecting widespread frustration over Cornwall Council’s unwillingness to listen to local voices and enforce planning laws.
Local councils play a crucial role in shaping planning decisions to protect the character of
their communities. Despite this, there is mounting evidence that Cornwall Council is
routinely disregarding the views of town and parish councils, failing to take enforcement
action against clear breaches of planning regulations, and allowing inappropriate
developments to proceed unchecked. This lack of oversight has led to developers,
homeowners, and businesses taking advantage of a system where enforcement is weak or
non-existent.
Forrabury and Minster Parish Council believes this situation is unacceptable. The planning
process should work in the best interests of local people, ensuring that developments are
appropriate, lawful, and respectful of our unique environment. However, Cornwall Council’s
persistent failures mean that communities like Boscastle are left powerless in the face of bad planning decisions.
The Council joins Marazion Town Council and others in demanding that Cornwall Council
takes urgent action to reform its planning and enforcement processes. We call on the
authority to work more closely with town and parish councils, uphold the integrity of
planning policies, and ensure that breaches of planning law are dealt with swiftly and
effectively.
We encourage residents to stay informed and engage with this issue, as the future of our
community’s built environment depends on a fair, transparent, and accountable planning
system.
