A planning application to be heard before the Islands’ Council tomorrow has proved so controversial that the meeting will be beamed onto a big screen in the Town Hall.
Up to 100 people will be able to watch live as Members thrash out a response to the application for a new campsite on Penninis Farm.
The proposal has been described by Council Press Officer Steve Watt as causing ?the biggest response, just on the basis of numbers, of any planning application for years.?
Speaking to ScillyNews today, he described Chief Planning Officer Craig Dryden as being ?snowed under? with letters on the issue.
At the time of finalising the Council’s report, 316 letters of representation had been received with 299 objecting and 17 in support (94.3% against) - although many were signatures on a single letter.
The application ? by farmer and Councillor Jon May - reads ?to change the use of (some of Penninis farm) from agricultural to serviced campsite and part conversion of buildings to accommodate ancillary facilities including staff accommodation.?
‘We’re projecting the webcast from a laptop onto a big screen in the Town Hall, as there are only eighteen or so chairs in the Wesleyan Chapel,? explained Steve Watt. ‘There’s huge interest in a couple of items in this meeting and in order to give people a chance to see what’s going on, we’re setting up the Town Hall with about 100 chairs.?
Despite the mounting interest in the issue, a deferral to a later date is recommended.
A large turnout is expected for the big screen show, the first of its kind for the Council.