RESIDENTS argue there has been a disregard for the strength of feeling in the community against controversial plans to build a 400-lodge luxury resort outside Newquay following the scheme being recommended for approval.

Cornwall Council planning officer Stephen Kirby has concluded the economic benefits of the Green Ridge Resort earmarked to be constructed on 70 acres of agricultural land off the A392 at Colan, Quintrell Downs would outweigh the negatives impacts.

Cornwall Council’s strategic planning committee is due to make a decision on the scheme at its meeting at County Hall on November 21 at 10am.

Residents, campaign group Residents Against Green Ridge Development, Colan Parish Council, St Austell and Newquay MP Noah Law and Colan Cornwall councillor John Fitter are opposed to the application submitted by Abe Simpson, of Kingsley Leisure developers, as they believe it will have an “unacceptable level of harm” to the landscape, ecology and historical setting of the area. Newquay Town Council has no objection to the scheme.

The proposed Green Ridge resort would also include a reception area, a swimming pool, spa and indoor activity centre, food and beverage outlets, outdoor activities including a water park, splash park, playground, dog walking trail, walking trails and seasonal outdoor events areas and a series of permanent lakes.

There would also be an on-site solar farm and associated battery storage facility to power the accommodation units.

A spokesperson for Residents Against Green Ridge Development said: “The size and scale of this project cannot be justified in this location it is a monstrosity.

“We cannot allow 180 acres of our beautiful Cornish countryside to be gobbled up by this development of over 400 units.

“These units will go on sale for us as much as £300,000 so the developers stand to make a lot of money, and it will be local residents who will see the already creaking infrastructure come under ever more pressure.

“We already have to wait weeks for doctors’ appointments, and we have long waiting lists for hospital treatment and the roads are already over congested for much of the year.

“The people of Colan Parish and the wider Newquay community have unanimously rejected this massive land grab voicing their disapproval on the planning portal.

“The fact that planning officer Stephen Kirby has recently recommended approval is quite astonishing given that the whole application is flawed and lacking in detail in key areas.

“This application drives a coach and horses through our planning system for agricultural land and will set a dangerous precedent going forward. It seems to me that developers can purchase some cheap land from a farmer, make a few promises about green credentials and Beryl Bikes and they’re in business.

“Steven Kirby gave much sway to the supposed economic benefits and job creation.

“But the vast majority of these jobs will be for cleaners, shop staff bar staff and a few landscapers and maintenance workers. Local businesses are already struggling to meet their staffing requirements for much of the year for these positions.

“We don’t need to surrender our countryside to make it even harder for established, organically grown businesses to find staff.

“As far as economic benefits go it doesn’t take much to work out that these are wildly overstated. There is already an oversupply of this kind of accommodation with lots of options locally including Retallick Spa, which has availability all year around. There is plenty of spare capacity around Newquay and we do not need to destroy our countryside just to make a few people rich and make it even harder for these local established businesses to survive.

“It is interesting that a similar Tourist destination recently went bust in St Ives, so it is obvious that the pressure is already on this type of business.

“It is important to remember that an economic benefit only applies when a Tourist comes to stay in Cornwall who would not otherwise have come if this development didn’t exist. The economic benefits are a myth because most of the bookings that this development generates will be at the expense of other local businesses.

“People choose to come to Cornwall when they see it on TV etc, and then they look where they will stay. This is backed up by Visit Cornwall who have advised against the development, and they know the industry inside out. It’s a shame that Steven Kirby chose to ignore them.

“The application is dressed up in green credentials, but those fields are already green and abundantly biodiverse and beautiful.

“From where we are standing there are very few if any benefits to this development and any benefits are far outweighed by the many serious disadvantage.

“Let’s hope that Cornwall Council see this application for what it is. It is a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing.”

Kingsley Leisure declined to comment.