Helicopter firm urged to rethink Scilly move
Stunned community leaders are to seek urgent talks with the operators of a Penzance to Isles of Scilly helicopter service, which is set to move its mainland base permanently to Newquay.
British International Helicopters (BIH) announced the transfer in the light of failed attempts to find a new site for a heliport in West Cornwall.
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British International Helicopters
However, Andrew George, the area's MP, and Mike Hicks, the leader of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, both said they intended to argue for a rethink.
Mr George said he was upbeat that BIH would stay in the Penzance area.
"I will be working with all concerned in any long-term move to Newquay to keep the service in Penzance," said the Lib Dem MP.
"I remain optimistic that will be the outcome."
It had been widely believed BIH was involved negotiations for a site in the Penzance area.
Mr Hicks said he was "shocked" at the company's announcement.
"It would be a bitter blow," he said. "I know BIH has been looking for a new heliport site, but I had hoped there were other options on the table than going to Newquay."
Mr Hicks said he would be seeking "urgent talks" with BIH.
"I think a meeting with BIH must be a matter of priority," he said.
In terms of air travel, the islands are currently served by BIH, which operates flights from Penzance to St Mary's and Tresco, and Skybus, owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which flies planes from a number of airports.
The passenger ferry Scillonian III, also operated by the Steamship Company, does not sail during the winter months and deliveries are made on board a freight ship, except mail and newspapers which are conveyed by BIH.
Transferring the helicopter service to Newquay would rob Penzance of an estimated tens of thousands of pounds a year of 'stop-over' business as well as gnaw away at the traditional links between the town and the islands.
There are also fears that the fact Newquay is not on the main London to Penzance railway line – and the airport is a £15 taxi ride from the station – would depress a tourist market at a difficult time.
There was nobody available for comment from BIH yesterday, but the company had previously confirmed "at the end of the 2012 season, the service will be permanently relocating to Newquay".
BIH, which has already sold the heliport site to Sainsbury's, will be operating a normal service until the end of October.
It first announced it intended to sell its heliport adjacent to the A30 in 2008. Plans to move to Land's End Aerodrome and then St Erth were both abandoned in the wake of public outcry.
2 Comments
by scillyphile
Friday, February 03 2012, 4:38PM
“As a regular Scilly visitor for over 40 years, passing through and spending time and money in Penzance, the removal of the BIH service to Newquay can only be seen as a short term measure as they cannot expect to run a profiable seervicxe to Scilly from that distance. Penzance will lose a lot of trade and I cannot see why the local council , or residents/visitors, will want another superstore , set between Tesco and Morrisons , all within easy walking distance of each other.
I can only presume BIH are intending to use their threat to leave Penzance as a bargainning tool in order to getCouncil aassistance in putting pressure on owners of Lands End aerodrome and resurrecting their attempt to use that as a base.
Such a move would cause logistical nightmare in trying to get all necessaty traffic to the field on very limited road access.
We have flown with Skybus for many years and such a move would probably tempt me , and many other regular skybus users , to use Newquay.”
by Regennotdegen
Friday, January 27 2012, 7:03PM
“God help Penzance if A.G. gets involved in the Heliport, lets not forget what a great help he was with the Scilly Link.
PZ Town Council are equally useless, who in their right minds would have believed BIH were going to keep any promises to stay in PZ once they had their planning application granted.
As soon as the permission was granted and the money from Sainsburys was in their grubby paws they immediately stopped any pretence of moving to St Erth.
Who actually wants Sainsburys in PZ ? Not anyone I know.
Any move to Newquay would be impossible financially and really I don't understand why BIH are even pretending that they (or anyone else) could to run a profit making Helicopter service from that distance for any length of time.
They have made it clear they will not be investing any more money in the service.
They will have no capital left to invest once their debts are cleared by the sale of the site to Sainsburys and which bank would be foolish enough to lend them any money based on their loss making past record.
Bad news for Penzance and the Islanders but the long term future for the service is very bleak indeed.”