11 October 2011 Last updated at 04:50 ET

Cornish MP is critical of English Heritage

English Heritage objected to recent plans for Hayle

A Cornish MP has called for the work of English Heritage in the county to be replaced by another organisation.

George Eustice, MP for Redruth and Camborne, highlighted its failure to support Hayle's South Quay development.

But English Heritage said the plans, which include a supermarket, would harm a "World Heritage site".

Mr Eustice said the organisation should be replaced with "a Cornish Heritage group" if it failed to "champion and promote our heritage".

Many local organisations, including the town council, backed the plans for redevelopment of the quay which had been derelict for 40 years.

ING, the owners of South Quay, want to build a supermarket and houses on the site.

Cultural identity

But English Heritage opposed the plans and said in a statement: "The proposed supermarket building and overall site layout would result in development which would be the imposition of an incongruous element within Hayle, and would cause harm to the World Heritage Site, the character of Hayle Conservation Area and to numerous listed structures and their settings."

Mr Eustice said: "We should be demanding that organisations like English Heritage should champion and promote our heritage.

"If they are not going to do that we should replace them with a Cornish Heritage group, just like they have for instance in Wales and Scotland."

In a statement English Heritage said it had "always supported and invested in the strong cultural identity that exists in Cornwall".

It added: "Cornwall Council's Historic Environment Service already champions its distinctive and important heritage.

"The role of English Heritage as a national organisation is to complement this by making sure that the value of Cornish heritage is recognised nationally and internationally."