Little hope for harbour alternative
MOVES to consider alternative plans for Penzance Harbour are feared to have run into a dead end, The Cornishman has learned.
A seminar earmarked to discuss alternative ways to redevelop the harbour is likely to result in empty promises after Route Partnership project director Tim Wood responsible for delivering the controversial scheme admitted the group has only agreed to meet the principal objectors to better 'understand each other's points of view'.
Pressure to bring both sides together for the first time emerged after hundreds of letters of objection flooded the former Penwith planning department last month.
Following this MP Andrew George called a meeting between himself, Mr Wood and executive members of Cornwall Council Matt McTaggart and Andrew Mitchell to take further the concerns raised about the proposed development to build on Battery Rocks.
However, since the pledge to examine and test alternative plans, RP project director Tim Wood said: "Whether there is an agreement or not is another matter. We are only looking for understanding.
"There was no commitment given to test the viability of the alternatives or to develop them.
"If an alternative proposal was now considered worthy of development it would require approval from Cornwall Council to fund another design and consultation process, modify Harbour Revision Orders, resubmit the business case to the Department for Transport for approval and resubmit for planning approval.
"That alternative scheme could cost £1m to £1.5m to develop.
"It could not be guaranteed to be without its own objectors."
Mr George called the 'two sides together' to critically examine all the alternatives.
He says he still believes there's a 'purpose' in bringing the sides together.
"Both sides have got irresolvable positions and that's the nature of negotiating with two sides with quite different views," he insisted.
"The negotiations require bringing them to the same room and that's proving more difficult than I anticipated.
"Both sides need to make more flexible approaches than they have so far publicly announced and I am confident that it will happen."
However, Mr George, admits he is disappointed. He added: "They (RP) realise that the public opposition and campaigns simply aren't going to go away.
"Perhaps naively they believed that by putting on an exhibition would satisfy the local community but they achieved the opposite and angered many."
The Friends of Penzance Harbour have welcomed the initiative. They have also, however, already declared that they will refuse to discuss any plans that involve building on Battery Rocks beach.
4 Comments
by roger lowry, PZ
Saturday, April 18 2009, 7:32PM
“The political leaders who made the decision (without a harbour revision order I understand)to fill in the harbour in 1962 are reviled today by the old sea dogs who were boating in that time. The reasons according to them were more to do with other things than creating a car park.
There has been no development in the harbour since the 1840's when what you see now is what you had then, developed for the coastal trade. Things have changed and the harbour does not reflect that change.
People believe it was a mistake in 1962 but the first mistake was made in 1839 when the local aldermen employed Henry Palmer, President of the Civil Engineering Institute and the leading designer of harbours in Britain, if not the world.
His design had what is the Albert Pier running out from Chyandour and the wet dock behind the station.Obvious isn't it? Instead we got what is causing traffic congestion today.
Two mistakes have already been made by the people "who know best". We don't want a third!
Checkout the harbour users development. The money available from the DfT is not tied to the RP scheme and could be stage one to something that will benefit the economy of west Cornwall for future generations. Why trash the historic centre of the town when other options are available?”
by gregor fraser, penzance
Friday, April 17 2009, 10:38AM
“why the constant "we do not want this" to any proposed development in penzance or the surrounding areas?! there are no jobs or prospects for people living in the area. Most young people are moving away from the region (myself included) which will result in a town unable to support itself due to an aging population.
Stop foccussing on the nagatives! look at the positives!! this development and the marina in mousehole will boost the area greatly! bring in new people, new money and new jobs!”
by John Maggs, Penzance
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 9:49PM
“The Friends of Penzance Harbour welcomed the opportunity to talk with the Route Partnership, but believe that the discussions should focus on alternatives to building on Battery Rocks beach. The public¿s response to the two Route Partnership pre-planning consultation exhibitions and the hundreds of objections made to the subsequent planning application make any further discussion about the proposal to build on Battery Rocks beach inappropriate. This will never be an approach that is acceptable to the Friends of Penzance Harbour or we believe to the thousands of local residents that have expressed an opinion in recent months, and time should not be wasted discussing it further.
Tim Wood¿s concern about costs rings hollow. The Route Partnership have recklessly poured funds into a project without proper public consultation and when it turns out no-one wants it they say they can¿t consider alternatives because it would cost too much. This in itself is outrageous, but their cheek is compounded by the fact that they know perfectly well that the alternatives being proposed are all likely to be cheaper than their scheme to build on a beach. Indeed, the main alternative being proposed (the out of town freight forwarding depot) would not require a Harbour Revision Order or planning permission, and who would object to an approach that removes over 250 cars, vans and lorries from the congested harbour area for every freight sailing.
For more information go to: www.friendsofpzharbour.org”
by roger lowry, PZ
Wednesday, April 15 2009, 7:59PM
“85% of people attending the two "final" exhibitions of plans for the Route Partnerships plan to destroy the historic centre of Penzance rejected it.
Penzance Town Council having been excluded from consultations along with other interested parties have rejected it twice!
Getting on for a thousand letters of objection have been received by the planning authority considering the application.
They have no choice but to consider alternative options.
The people of Penzance do not want what they contrive to impose on the sea front.”