Concerns over the use of taxpayers’ money and fears about anti-social behaviour dominate critical reaction to Cornwall Council’s purchase of a former pub in St Austell to turn into flats.

The project hit the headlines after Cornwall Council explained why it is having to spend an extra £750,000 on the flats after having already spent £1million buying the building.

The council bought the former General Wolfe pub in the town centre last summer with a view to using it to provide temporary accommodation for homeless people.

Now Government funding of £750,000 will be used so 13 flats can be used, “enabling a prominent site in St Austell town centre to be refurbished from its current derelict state”, Cornwall Council’s cabinet heard.

But reacting to the news in letters and on the Voice’s social media pages, residents have been sceptical.

Via email, Barney Proctor said: “As a resident of St. Austell for the last 20 years, I can't help but feel that this is yet another nail in the coffin for the town and residents with respect to the sheer amount of this type of housing that Cornwall Council appear to be investing in and in particular, in this area of the town. 

“We now have I believe four large housing projects and this would be a fifth. What I know for sure is that the level of anti-social behaviour has been going up continuously for 20 years and I've now reached a point where I just want to leave.”

Steve Sturges said: “They’ll only fill it with the junkies and drunks that get moved out from the hostels! There'll be nothing for the young locals that are forced to live with their parents until they're 35!”

Geoff Semmens said “the way the run the council is not for the tax payer but for themselves, they put money into projects that make them look important”.

‘Gin Drinka’ asked “will there be a public consultation on this?” and went on: “What’s wrong with putting it back to flats to rent out to younger generation, or even for them to buy and get a foot on the ladder?”

Leon Prideaux said: “… disgusting and this is why the council have got to ask the people because they are not business minded they haven’t a clue spending public money... like this.”

Michael John Prout said: “So sad, the General Wolfe such an iconic pub in its day, now look at it.”

But Susan Bond suggested the plan was “a good idea if it’s going to be done right but if it’s only going to be for people that come into the county, then no.”

And Nigel Cheshire wrote: “As long as it goes to locals, it might help re-generate the town centre too. Must not be second homes/holiday lets/airb&bs”.