COUNCILLORS of Bude-Stratton Town Council discussed the request from its planning committee to consider the uses for land identified for community use at the Bovis Homes site at Binhamy Farm near Lidl in the town at their latest full council meeting on Thursday, June 7, writes David Sillifant.

Lib Dem Cornwall Councillor, Peter La Broy, who wants to implement some affordable social housing for people on the site, got the item underway, saying: “It’s a combination of two matters coming forward from planning meetings and neighbourhood plan action group.

“It’s the will of both committees, but can the council engage and come to a decision?

“The way this could be done, although this is at an idea stage, is with a new type of group, a CLT (Community Land Trust), it would be great if we could get the current site. I’d like to get an agreement from the council to ask Cornwall Council to help us obtain the land.

Cllr Julia Bryson was the first to respond, saying: “I like Cllr La Broy’s ideas and suggestions and that we make a proposal and resolution.

Cllr Francis Richens added: “What I like about CLTs is that you can build them and be exempt from being sold off. It’s just what we need.”

Cllr Lesley Moores said that the people in the town don’t want it.

She said: “I’ve been going on about social housing being a good thing but I’ve been talking to people from the town, but they think it’s a bad idea.”

Cllr Lea Deely believed that social housing is paramount.

She said: “Can we look into forming a CLT? It’s the logical first step and then we can decide how we move forward from there. There’s a desperate need for social housing in Bude.”

Cllr Frank Partridge asked what the land should be used for.

He said: “I thought this was a green idea left for the community. If we get it and we can build on it, why couldn’t we build on it in the first place?”

However Cllr Ian Mason was firmly behind the plans.

He said: “I think it’d be a really good thing to do, it’s not the only option and other ideas could be discussed but I support Cllr La Broy’s idea.”

Cllr La Broy added: “It’s been available for years and no-one’s come forward. Many groups could have had the opportunity. I can’t think of a better idea than social housing. I want the council to merely express an interest and this means Cornwall Council won’t get rid of the land.”

Cllr Tony Gibbs lives close by and said that communication levels need to improve.

He said: “People believe it’s going to become a community centre but if it is needed to be changed then we need to inform people.”

Cllr Paul Tilzey said: “I agree with Peter that we want the land. We need to put a marker down.”

However Cllr Heather Partridge agreed with Cllr Gibbs. She said: “People need to approach the people who live there, it could be a nice community area.”

Cllr Gibbs then added: “It’s not the only place on the estate. I would like to see something from Bovis saying they’re not going to do anything. We need to do that before we move in and say we want the land.”

The Responsible Financial Officer for the town council, Keith Cornwell, said: “It’s dependent on the Section 106 agreement. Terms need to be established.”

Cllr Julia Bryson said that the wheels needed to be put in motion.

She added: “I believe that if we put in an expression of interest, we could let the people know and correspond with Bovis.”

Cllr Heather Partridge believed that the space needs to be used for a community area.

She said: “I reiterate that needs to stay as a green space, we need to make it a nice community area.”

Cllr La Broy concluded by saying: “The land was always intended to be built on, my only concern is that I think some of the Section 106 agreements are time bound, so I want us to explore the possibility sooner rather than when it’s too late.

“I’ll make the following proposal, Bude-Stratton Town Council express an interest to Cornwall Council in acquiring the land for community use.”

Three resolutions including the above and ‘Check the details of the Section 106 agreement’ and ‘Explore the setting up of a CLT for Bude’ were voted on.

The majority of councillors voted in favour, with only Heather Partridge and Lesley Moores objecting.

After the meeting, Cllr La Broy told the Post: “A Community Land Trust supported by Bude-Stratton Town Council could acquire land and build affordable housing for local people. There is grant funding available for this sort of project, it would be a shame for Bude to miss out. We would be making a sound investment into bricks and mortar that will support local families for a very long time to come.”