The general secretary (GS) of the Celtic League has leant his weight to protests against a planning application to build a commercial water storage and distribution site next to a historic monument in Cornwall.
The plan to build the commercial site next to Perran Round in Perranporth has infuriated members of the Kernow Branch of the League whose Secretary has already submitted an objection to the planning department of the Council. The Perran Round site is a Mediaeval Playing Place (plen-an-gwari) where religious plays used to be held in the Cornish language. Originally an Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed farmstead it was converted to a Playing Place in the
medieval period. In his submission to the planning committee of Cornwall Council, the GS said that “our members have concerns that the proposed development could have a detrimental effect on the structure, access and archaeological significance of the Round, putting the site at further risk of erosion and damage.” The full text of the letter can be found below and supporters are urged to write to Cornwall Council at the email below to state their concerns.
Dear Dan Mitchell
PA10/06231 and Perran Round
It was with dismay that we heard a planning application has been submitted to build “a commercial water storage and distribution site to a commercial beverage production establishment” near St Piran’s Round in Perranporth.
Perran Round has a strong symbolic value for Cornish people in Cornwall and around the world, because it is closely associated with St Piran – Cornwall ‘s patron saint. In addition, St Piran’s Round is one of only a handful of examples of Cornish Plen an Gwari’s left in existence. The site is therefore a tourist attraction for many people who visit Cornwall annually, contributes to the economy of the local area and should be placed on a more sustainable footing by
the Council.
It is the opinion of our members that the site and the surrounding area should be preserved as much as possible and potentially unsightly commercial developments prevented from being built in close proximity to it. It fact it is the opinion of our members that the site should be restored to its original historical state as much as possible, because it is such an important part of Cornwall’s cultural heritage.
Moreover, our members have concerns that the proposed development could have a detrimental effect on the structure, access and archaeological significance of the Round, putting the site at further risk of erosion and damage. Currently the site is is protected as a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments Acts 1913-53 by the UK Department of the Environment.
Thank you for taking our views into consideration.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot
General Secretary
Celtic League
Link:
Perran Round –
https://www.st-piran.com/perranround.htm
Planning –
This article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League. For follow-up comment or clarification contact:
Tel: 0044 (0)1209315884
M: 0044(0)7787318666
gensec@celticleague.net
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
03/12/10