International superstar Roger Taylor of the rock band Queen has condemned outsiders for putting at risk the livelihoods of fishermen who work in the area where he owns a home, in Helford.

His words come as a BBC1 television programme last night highlighted the difficulties of the fisherman in the village, who want to build a new jetty but have been stopped by second home owners.

As featured in the Packet yesterday, fisherman Chris Bean has been trying for five years to build the jetty in the creek.

Plans for the new jetty and roadway were approved by Kerrier district council almost two years ago to the satisfaction of local conservation bodies.

But it is on hold because members of the Helford Village Society – which is dominated by owners of second homes in the village – have forced a judicial review of the council’s decision. It will cost Kerrier a considerable amount of money to put their case and local council taxpayers will have to foot the bill.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor heard about the fishermen’s plight when he arrived home from a tour in South America to find a letter from the fishermen asking him to support their cause.

He would particularly affected by the planned new jetty as his home is directly opposite, on the other side of the river.

Mr Taylor, who was brought up in nearby Truro and spends a large amount of time at his Helford home and the surrounding area, said: “I lived and grew up in Cornwall and I cannot see one single reason why the jetty should not be built.

“Fishermen work there year round and live there year round and they have a hard life. It is a bit of a joke that they are not allowed it.”

He added that he did not believe the jetty would change the scenery in any way.

“Those guys who live and work there all year round, why shouldn't they have a good old-fashioned jetty? A beautiful old-fashioned granite jetty would make the fishermen's lives a lot easier.

“People who do not live there and do not know the area much should just shut up and get on with their lives,” he said.

Mr Taylor's family moved to Cornwall when he was young and he attended boarding school in Truro.

  • Chris Bean and the story of the jetty were featured on BBC1 Inside Out programme yesterday evening. See link below.