The leaseholder of Maenporth Beach Café and car park in Falmouth told councillors about the issues while speaking in defence of an application to install an ANPR pay and display system in the beach car park, which she believes will help curb any issues. Her words came at a meeting to make a decision on the application. The planning application had received a number of objections from locals as well as the Cornwall National Landscape team (formerly the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty / AONB) and local councillor Alan Jewell.
Planning officer Helen Trebilcock recommended approval, saying the payment machine and camera are modest and typical of any rural car park and "cause no demonstrable harm to the local character and distinctiveness of the Cornwall National Landscape". A meeting of the council's central area planning committee at County Hall / Lys Kernow in Truro heard that the 1.4m high camera bollard would not interfere with any views and there was no lighting proposed.
A previous application had been refused but the new proposal dropped signage as it met 'demand consent criteria'. However, that means signs could be added at a later date. Cllr Debra Clegg, Falmouth Town Council, said her council objected to the plan, with or without signage, as "it's a modest site, largely undeveloped and the character will be changed".
An aerial image shows where the ANPR system would be installed in relation to Maenporth beach (Pic: Google Earth / Cornwall Council) Applicant...
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