Fears over expansion plan for village pub

Residents have expressed concerns over plans to extend a village pub in Cornwall.

The scheme for the Grade II-listed Plume of Feathers at Mitchell, Newquay, include adding a wedding venue building, restaurant, nine guest rooms, seven self-contained holiday units and parking for 82 vehicles.

The application is due to be discussed at a Cornwall Council planning meeting amid concerns over parking, traffic, flood risk and the impact of light and noise on neighbouring properties.

The pub's owner, Crowndell Consulting Ltd, said the village would feel the economic benefits of the scheme.

The application received around 30 public objections on the council's planning portal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said.

In a planning statement, Crowndell Consulting Ltd said the pub was a significant employer in the village, with 40 local staff of whom 60 per cent lived in the village itself.

It added: "The proposed redevelopment will increase the number of employees by an additional 50, providing new employment opportunities for both existing and new staff members."

Cornwall Council's planning department has said it believes the benefits in terms of business growth and employment outweigh any negatives and the proposal should be approved.

But St Newlyn East Parish Council has objected on a number of grounds, including concerns about increased traffic.

"The size and scale of the proposed development is wholly inappropriate in a residential area," the council said.

A decision will be made at the planning meeting at County Hall in Truro.

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