Chairman hits out at council's affirmation
THE CHAIRMAN of Penzance Chamber of Commerce has hit out at Penzance Town Council for reaffirming its stance on the multi-million pound harbour scheme.
The majority of town councillors repeated their position on Monday when they voted against the listed building consent application to build harbour facilities on reclaimed land at Battery Rocks beach.
They cited its harmful impact on the South Pier, use of concrete and over development of the historic harbour.
But chamber chair Mike Waters claims the town has been dealt a "potentially deadly blow" by their decision.
Resign
He is calling for the resignation of those councillors – John Moreland, Jan Ruhrmund, Margaret Freeman, Caroline White, Roy Mann, Philip Peters, Judith Parkin, Anne Dennis and Dennis Axford – who voted against the scheme. He wrote: "These people should be ashamed to call themselves councillors, let alone residents of Penzance, and should resign immediately. So there we are, we have an MP who is now joined by the majority of the town council who seem to be set on destroying the economy and employment opportunities of its people."
Mr Waters also stated in his letter that some of the councillors involved in the debate, including Tamsin Williams, who abstained from the vote, had stated their support for Option A in the past.
But Cllr Williams disputed the claim, saying: "I supported Option C and since the cabinet decided against it I went on a fact finding mission and have listened to both sides.
"I have not supported Option A but I am not actively pushing the link to Falmouth – I do not want them to get the link."
Three councillors – Mike Lovegrove, David Nebesnuick and Phil Rendle – voted in favour of Option A.
2 Comments
by Pz Businessman, Penzance
Friday, March 05 2010, 3:12PM
“Just who does Mike Waters think he is calling on elected Town Councillors to resign? We do not (yet) live in a dictatorship where Mr Waters and his best friend Graeme Hicks decide who should and should not be a Penzance councillor. No wonder Pz businesses are leaving his little fiefdom of the Chamber of Commerce and signing up with the much more representative and democratic Penzance Business Network.”
by Disappointed Resident, Penzance
Thursday, March 04 2010, 2:57PM
“Well well Mike Walters strikes again; you can always guarantee that he will have something totally of the wall to say. I have said this before but I will say it again. ¿I just cannot understand why the businesses of Penzance allow him to be their spokes person¿ surely there must be someone in their ranks who has some nous.
It could however explain why so few businesses actually join the Penzance Chamber of Commerce me being one of them
It¿s little wonder that his bid to be a town councillor failed.
To give some background to this nugget I understand that when he stood a relative newcomer to Penzance was deemed a more sensible appointee. So I suspect his rant about resignations is more sour grapes than anything else.
Clearly the names he mentioned and in particular Ms Jan Ruhrmund. Who has a track record second to none? Have handled themselves through out this with more integrity than the rather volatile Mr. Walters.
In times like these some sayings that my father used to use come to mind.
¿You can always tell the caliber of a man by the company he keeps¿,
and the other one is ¿empty vessels make the most noise¿”