A bunch of ‘Davids’ who fought a tourism ‘Goliath’ since plans were first introduced to build a 100-room Premier Inn in St Ives are carrying on their battle.

Later reduced to 90 rooms, the hotel proposal to replace the town’s last care home was refused by a Cornwall Council planning committee last April.

Councillors felt that the hotel mooted for Trewidden Road, overlooking St Ives, would result in an adverse impact upon the area and skyline due to its height and massing. However, Whitbread, which owns the Premier Inn brand, has appealed the decision. There will be a public hearing in the town in March.

In a case statement, JLL on behalf of the hotel group, said: “The appellant’s view, supported by officers, is that this is an appropriate development, in the appropriate location and brought in the appropriate time. It is a sustainable development that should be supported.

“It would have significant benefits to the local economy, particularly in the current uncertain times. It would provide a significant economic boost to the local economy on a previously developed site, within a sustainable location.”

However, a local opposition group, representing over 600 objectors, is fighting the appeal and has asked for more ‘Davids’ to join its campaign to stop the possibility of the “relentless monstrosity” being built in what they say is a quiet residential area.

They have released eight reasons why the Premier Inn should not replace the Cornwallis Nursing Home. Here are their arguments against in their words.

It would breach the historic skyline, ruin the landscape and street scene of this charming fishing village, and is the architectural equivalent of fitting a quart into a pint pot. It’s far too big and ugly for that site.

It would be unneighbourly in the extreme and would result in significant loss of privacy, overshadowing, and noise and odour to those in the surrounding residential homes.

It would result in the closure of the last remaining care home in St Ives – home to 39 people. Why should those people have to move to Penzance or elsewhere in Cornwall? St Ives desperately needs care places for its elderly population.

It would provide only 20 parking spaces for a 90-bed hotel and seek to rely on the busiest public car park in Cornwall. It would be built on a road that is already congested for much of the year and that is steep, winding and has few pavements.

It isn’t needed as there is already an over-supply of tourist accommodation of all kinds and to suit all budgets. St Ives suffers from over-tourism in the summer months and lacks the infrastructure and permanent housing for residents to cope. This hotel offers nothing that doesn’t exist already.

There is no compelling economic case to justify lasting damage to the affected residential area and town skyline, eg: there would be very few jobs created for St Ives from the construction and operation of the hotel.

No one supports this development – 613 people have objected to the proposals with only three supporters. St Ives Town Council opposes the development, as does Cornwall Council. This overwhelming weight of public opinion from a tiny town like St Ives (population of 5,409) speaks volumes.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Whitbread’s claim to add 64,000 visitors (including 22,500 business visitors) to the St Ives nighttime economy is fantasy. St Ives is the attraction not a Premier Inn. If the figures were true, that would represent a 30 per cent increase in overnight visitors to a town already overrun with tourists.”

Whitbread’s Louise Woodruff told last year’s planning meeting: “Our research shows there is a clear unmet demand for affordable, good quality, year-round visitor accommodation within St Ives.” She said it would create 30 permanent jobs and help investment in the local economy. The peak room rate would be £250 per night.

The public hearing will be held on March 19 at the Tregenna Castle Hotel, St Ives. The campaign group has raised 80 per cent of its £7,500 target to fight the appeal. The Gofundme page can be viewed here.