A FURIOUS island community has effectively disowned their MP saying he can no longer be trusted to represent their views in a row over a crucial ferry development.

In an unprecedented move, the Council for the Isles of Scilly yesterday voted to bypass its MP, Andrew George, in ministerial level discussions over plans to enhance the sea link to the mainland.

Such is its anger, the council is to write to shipping minister Paul Clark, Mr George's party leader, Nick Clegg, and Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, to vent its feelings.

Trouble has been brewing for weeks after the Isles of Scilly council overwhelmingly backed plans to build new facilities on St Mary's for the ferry link to the mainland.

But the Penzance end of the link remains unresolved and Scillies councillors believe Mr George's views are out of step with their own.

Julia Day, who chairs the council, said feelings were running high in the islands: "There is a great deal of anger and people feel they have been disenfranchised by their MP.

"We no longer feel that Andrew George is able to represent the views of this community and therefore we need to represent ourselves.

"We need to make sure that ministers understand this. We do not feel we can have confidence he will express the views of the islanders."

The motion voted for by all but one councillor stated: "The Council of the Isles of Scilly instructs the chairman to write to the to the shipping minister, Paul Clark, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis and the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP, to inform them that Andrew George MP is not considered to be representing the interests of the islands in respect of the Route Partnership Project."

Last night, Mr George said he remained determined to see the project succeed and it would be better to concentrate on this than "indulge in personal recriminations".

During recent meeting on the Scillies and in Penzance, he said he had appealed for a calm, rational discussion on both sides. "I regret that the council has responded in this manner. Taken with the recent outburst from the portfolio holder in Truro, my fear for the future of this vital project only increases.

"I leave it to others to judge for themselves whether these statements reflect on me and my efforts or diminish the councils responsible for the project."

The crux of the argument is over two options being discussed for the Penzance end of the link – a single passenger and freight handling facility in the seafront Battery Rocks area and a split site, with freight handled at an out-of-town depot.

An independent report said the latter option could push up prices for Scillonians by a quarter and is fiercely opposed by islanders.

Mr George has publicly backed this alternative, but also said he would support the single site option if that was the decision Cornwall Council planners ultimately made.

Campaigners Friends of Penzance Harbour backs the out-of-town option, fearing a new terminal would destroy the historic Battery Rocks area. The scheme is being put together by Cornwall Council-led Route Partnership consortium.