THE OWNER of an industrial estate in Harrowbarrow has been supported by Calstock parish councillors in his application to build a home on the estate to increase security at the site.

Steve Pearce said the three-bedroom bungalow for him and his family would help him manage, maintain and secure Stamps Industrial Estate, which he had owned and built up over the last 12 years.

Speaking at the parish council meeting last week, Mr Pearce said in recent years, the estate had suffered from vandalism, fly tipping and theft, including a caravan valued at £3,000, timber products and a large air compressor.

He said he had tried security devices but these had little effect without someone on site to monitor them. He had even looked at employing a private security firm but at upwards of £10,000 a year, this was not a feasible option.

'It's got to the stage now where we are desperate for an on-site dwelling, not just for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the estate, but to allow us to run it much more efficiently, to its full potential and provide much-needed round the clock security,' he said.

A petition in support of the application signed by the 12 tenants on the estate had been delivered to Cornwall Council, he added.

Support was given by the parish councillors who said it was a good use of a brownfield site.