A YARD for parking buses is proposed at Wheal Honey, Menheniot.

Go South West, a subsidiary of the Go-ahead Group comprising Plymouth Citybus and Go Cornwall, has applied for permission to use the existing commercial yard for overnight parking of 13 buses with the erection of 3.5 metre high sound barriers on the site.

The buses are contracted to Cornwall Council to provide public bus services and school buses mainly in the Liskeard and south east Cornwall area. They are currently based near to the former magistrates court in Culverland Road,Liskeard which is due to be redeveloped.

Wheal Honey comprises a small group of buildings with the yard adjacent. It used to be a lead and silver mine. The application site is one of three commercial sites - it is understood the land was previously used in connection with a plant hire business, a builder’s yard, concrete batching plant and waste transfer station.

There are however five residential properties in the vicinity of the site. The planning application admits there will be noise from the starting of engines, air brakes and manoeuvring the buses in the early morning and late evening. But the bus company has said that the reversing hooters can be switched off when leaving and entering the site.

The application said: ‘Whilst there is some noise effect from the proposed development the noise would meet the BS standard sleeping noise levels for residents……Noise emissions are to be attenuated to an acceptable level by means of sound barriers.’