A town councillor on Falmouth Town Council has left the Labour group and set up as an independent after a disagreement over policy.

Cllr Zoe Young is part of a working group set up to try and tackle the problem of van dwellers parking their vehicles along Falmouth seafront and living in them.

In July she had championed creating a French “Aire” in the car park of the former Ships and Castles leisure centre on Pendennis Headland. Aires are low cost or free private parking area for motorhomes and caravans.

It would mean providing a supply of fresh water and waste disposal/ recycling facilities, and a way to pay, say, £10 per night per van.

But her proposals did not tie in with the aims of the Labour group who were opposed to any kind of permanent settlement on the headland.

Consequently Cllr Young has left the Labour group, the majority on Falmouth Town Council, and now brands herself as a Labour independent. 

In a statement issued to the Packet, Labour councillor Jude Robinson said: “Zoe left the Labour Group because she did not agree with us that the headland is not the place for a permanent settlement, whether that be executive homes or mobile homes.

“We respect her wish to advocate on behalf of van dwellers and we are pressing Cornwall Council to make provision for them. Zoe felt unable to stay with the group on that basis.

“The Labour Group continues to work on delivering the headland devolution and the best services for Falmouth. I feel very fortunate to be part of such a diverse, energetic and community focussed group of people. We are working with all councillors on the town council, whatever their party or independent status.”

However Cllr Young told the Packet that the reason for her leaving the group was not over the van dwellers.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to set the record straight,” she said. “I was elected to represent the interests of all residents in my ward, not least those abandoned under the Tories.

“Public consultations on potential community uses of Pendennis headland should be informed by emerging evidence, guided by the Neighbourhood Development Plan and agreed upon through the democratic process.

“I look forward to working positively with all members of FTC for the benefit of our residents.”

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A consultation on parking restrictions along Boscawen Road, Swanpool Road and Cliff Road is currently underway and ends on November 30. The consultations can be found at www.cornwall.gov.uk/TrafficConsult.