MOUNTING concerns that massive scale housing, planned for Liskeard, will lead to an enormous population increase and the obliteration of the town's semi-rural areas, have led to a special meeting being arranged.

The open meeting, in March, is for all residents in the Lodge Hill, Lamellion and Trevillis area, where the local plan, dealing with the next decade up to 2011, has identified 75 acres of land on which 900 homes could be sited.

However, as the plan at the moment allocates 1,500 new properties to Liskeard it is hoped eventually other organisations and residents will become involved in a campaign opposing the strategy.

It is felt siting 900 houses in the Lodge Hill/Lamellion area, because it is so close to the railway station, would change what is essentially a rural area into an enormous housing estate. Such large scale residential developments could see the population of Liskeard rocket by thousands.

Impact

A group of concerned residents have booked the Public Hall's Long Room for March 2 at 7.30pm. One of them, Anne Sandercock, said if the 900 homes were built they would have an enormous impact on the currently semi-rural area and on the town - but would be of little economic help to the town centre, as they were more likely to lead to further out-of-town development. The plan suggests developers providing a transport strategy, and improving the existing A38 junction at Moorswater for an access road to the new development. Mrs Sandercock said if this is carried out then another supermarket would surely follow.

Last month the South East Cornwall Environmental Trust argued the extra homes would massively increase traffic flows in Liskeard. Their housing spokesman, Lisa Wang, said: 'Caradon council's plans look like the most colourful suicide note in Cornwall's history - the council seems to have decided to destroy all the areas it represents in one mad planning stroke.'

Business use

Other areas in Liskeard identified as providing possible housing are 45 acres between Callington Road and St Cleer Road capable of taking 540 homes; land west of Coldstyle Road where a further 45 acres could accommodate 540 houses; Tencreek Farm where there are no physical barriers for development eastwards; and Island Shop/Bolitho.

At the same time 42 acres of previously allocated land to the east of Liskeard in the Lake Lane/Pengover Road area has again been identified - for industrial, business and commercial use.