An iconic part of the landscape in Truro city centre has had a reprieve and could get a new lease of life, writes Local Democracy Reporter Lee Trewhela.
The Compton Castle boat, which has been moored on Lemon Quay for 42 years, was due to be broken up after falling into disrepair and attracting rough sleepers, drug taking and antisocial behaviour.
Cornwall Harbours Board agreed in March to start the £200,000 break-up process of the paddle streamer – which has previously been a café, restaurant and live music venue – and seek match funding from Truro Town Deal board, while also pursuing recovery costs from the boat’s owner, Porthia Ltd, whose directors are Brian and Alison Ellsmore.
However, a planning application has now been received by Cornwall Council to save the boat. Paul Bent and Manti Tauren-Bent, of Treheveras Farm, Kenwyn, in Truro are seeking permission to move the Compton Castle to their property where they will restore it.
Their application states: “Prior notification of agricultural or forestry development for historic paddle steamer Compton Castle currently at Lemon Quay, Truro, to be crane-lifted from its mooring and transported to the B3284 and then crane-lifted onto our top field onto a prepared concrete plinth with railway sleepers to assist with existing farm crate sales business and renovate to its former glory as we are both members of the Paddle Steamer Renovation Society.”
While Cornwall Council, as harbour authority, has had limited contact from the applicant “to renovate the Compton Castle on farmland near Truro”, a spokesperson said the council’s focus is on working with Truro Town Deal to secure the boat’s removal as part of wider enhancement plans for the area.
Harbours Board chairman Cllr Loic Rich said at the March meeting: “The problem is the boat does need to be gone for a range of reasons, including on safety grounds as there has been some pretty bad stuff happening on that boat recently; blue light services have been called there and the risk to emergency workers is very high. For me, any amount of money is worth preserving life because that’s how bad it is on that boat.”
The meeting heard that the harbour authority’s legal team was in talks with the current owner, Porthia Ltd, to recover both the rent, which hasn’t been paid for a year, and a contribution towards disposal.
Maritime manager Chris Jones told the board that without the Compton Castle’s presence the prime waterside site’s rental value would be around the £20,000 mark.
More details of application PA24/04168 can be found here: https://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SE78V4FG1W400
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