A group of “concerned citizens” from St Ives have started a fundraiser to get professional advice in their bid to fight plans for a Premier Inn hotel in the town, which they have dubbed a “needless monstrosity”.

Brian Selman and Willem Smith have set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £5,000. As previously reported, Whitbread – which owns the hotel brand – has applied to Cornwall Council to knock down St Ives’ last remaining care home, Cornwallis Nursing Home on Trewidden Road, and replace it with a 90-room hotel.

Earlier this month, St Ives Town Council resoundingly objected to the proposal, with councillors calling it a “carbuncle”, “far too big” and “not Premier League but Second Division relegation zone” with “too many floors and flaws”. More than 600 people have also opposed the application on Cornwall Council’s online planning register.

 

How the revised Premier Inn in St Ives would look (Photo: Whitbread)

How the revised Premier Inn in St Ives would look (Photo: Whitbread)

 

The fundraiser to pay for professional fees to fight the application, states: “We are a group of concerned citizens of St Ives who are opposing this unwanted and unneeded over-development of our small, beautiful, heritage town.

“This eyesore would forever ruin our iconic skyline. It will massively intrude on neighbouring properties, overlooking them and causing light, noise and odour pollution. It will severely impact families, couples, and elderly and vulnerable people who surround the site in a mix of social and private permanent residences. It will also rob the town of much-needed care home facilities.”#

Details for the fundraiser can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/stop-this-needless-monstrosity-of-st-ives

With more than £500 raised since it was set up on Wednesday, the petition organisers added: “Situated on a narrow one-way road with limited pedestrian access, and with only 20 parking spaces for hotel and restaurant visitors and staff, it will exacerbate the parking chaos and congestion problems of little St Ives.

“St Ives already has a surfeit of tourist accommodation of all types and ranges. Claiming it to be a ‘budget’ hotel, Whitbread have admitted it will be over £250 a night per room in season. That makes it an expensive option.

“St Ives Town Council unanimously rejected this new plan, in the strongest possible terms, on November 9. But sadly this is not the end of the matter! We now await a decision from Cornwall Council. This is likely to happen in the next few months. If turned down at county level, it is possible that Whitbread may appeal. This is where we need your help.”

 

How the view from the harbour would look with the addition of the proposed Premier Inn (Photo: Whitbread)

How the view from the harbour would look with the addition of the proposed Premier Inn (Photo: Whitbread)

 

They say that in the “happy event” that the cost of professional advice is less than the donations, the money will be given to charities benefitting St Ives, particularly those helping the elderly and people in housing need.

This included the planning history of the site with a previous permission for a 39-room aparthotel at the location.

Whitbread representatives previously said the size of the hotel had reduced from 100 rooms to 90, due to locals' concerns, and the size and design now has a more traditional look.

They also said that the hotel would lead to 30 jobs in the town, would create a gross value added (GVA) economic gain of £1.7m and £90,000 in business rates revenue for Cornwall Council.