Results have been revealed of a public consultation into a proposed new retail park for Helston that would see an Aldi supermarket, Range store with garden centre and a McDonald's being built on land near the hospital.

Linked to the development at Hospital Cross would be the redevelopment of the former Co-op/Budgens store in Trengrouse Way into a "community facility for public use."

The land is owned by the Downsland Trust, which supports local groups with grants, with the trustees historically made up of serving town councillors.

An "option to buy" agreement is in place with the development company, which has until July 23 next year to apply for planning permission and then until 2022 to take up the option.

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Christian Fisk, senior planner with Pegasus Group on behalf of Parsonage Developments, told the Packet that 740 leaflets were circulated to the local community, residents and businesses surrounding the site, including RNAS Culdrose, Helston Community Hospital, Sainsbury’s supermarket and Flambards theme park.

An advert regarding the publication consultation was also placed in the local press.

Mr Frisk said that a dedicated website set up for the project had 7,443 hits over the three-week public consultation period.

During that time, he said, there were 228 comments of support received, 131 comments of objection and 35 impartial comments or observations.

He added that detailed comments and themes raised in the public consultation will be provided in a comprehensive 'Statement of Community Involvement' document that will accompany the formal planning application.

The consultation response comes as the Cornwall Green Party calls for the Downsland Trust and Helston town councillors to "urgently reconsider" the plans saying it would "seriously harm the natural environment, increase carbon emissions, damage town-centre businesses and bring no benefits to the local community."

It also raised concerns for wildlife, saying there was badger sett in the fields, and the area was visited regularly by deer, sparrowhawks, screech owls and barn owls.

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Echoing comments made by Helston Climate Action Group, 2019 General Election candidate for Truro and Falmouth Tom Scott said: “In 2019, Helston Town Council declared a climate emergency and signed up to be an Earth Protector Town. Helston town councillors are all trustees of the Downsland Trust, and it’s very hard to see how they or the Trust see the destruction of the green space at Hospital Cross as in any way compatible with these commitments.

“If they’re serious about cutting emissions and protecting the natural environment, they need to reverse this destructive decision, made behind closed doors and with no proper consultation.

“Now that Cornwall is developing a Nature Recovery Plan, the destruction of green spaces and wildlife corridors is the very last thing we should be contemplating.”

Helston Climate Action Group has also written an open letter, as previously reported in the Helston Packet, saying it "notes with dismay" the proposals, believing they will cause long term harm to Helston’s community and the environment.

The Packet has contacted the Downsland Trust for a response to concerns raised.