TIM Williams' departure for higher things ("Tim's post is at the heart of government," Packet, June 18) is an opportunity to reflect on the "regeneration" of Camborne-Redruth.
In its media releases CPR Regeneration has projected an image of a district of innovation and dynamism, presenting a bold, indeed brave, new future. However, if we strip away the rhetoric, at the heart of "regeneration" we discover a massive house building programme. Already, in just the four schemes announced, 1,500 houses will be built. This is equivalent to all the houses actually built during the 1990s, and there are many more to come.
Affordable housing provides the justification but the minority of "affordable" houses in these schemes are a smokescreen to divert attention from the bigger picture - a large rise in population. This is neither new nor innovative but continues the well-tried (and unsuccessful) policies of the 1970s and 80s. These involved building more houses and then keeping fingers crossed that more people would lead to more jobs and more prosperity. Instead it led to declining relative wages, growing pressures on local roads, schools and health services and, as a recent report about air pollution in Camborne-Redruth reminds us, unsustainable environmental effects. Nobody has explained how this time it will be different.
As CPR projects roll out, public disquiet, for example over the Trevu Road development in Camborne or the re-location of Redruth RFC, find no forum for expression. Meanwhile, Kerrier district council appears to have handed its responsibility for long term planning over to CPR Regeneration.
Fundamental questions about public accountability and democratic scrutiny are surely involved though rarely if ever discussed. Isn't it about time we began a proper debate about the long-term future of our communities?
Dr Bernard Deacon, Adelaide Road, Redruth, and Peter Wills, Carn Brea
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