MP helps local people draw up 'Pz' option for harbour
A NEW alternative for the future of Penzance Harbour is being drawn up by local people.
Option Pz is the result of discussions led by St Ives MP Andrew George, aimed at finding a workable solution for the development if Option A fails.
-
Late evening sun in a tranquil Penzance harbour overlooked by St Mary's Church. CIoSP
Mr George said details of the proposals would be released over the next few weeks, but their alternative scheme would be:
● Less expensive than Option A;
● Would not require another Harbour Revision Order;
● Would enable Penzance to work constructively with English Heritage.
Mr George told The Cornishman that around 30 people had attended the first meeting on Monday, which Cornwall Council said it did not attend as it was based on the premise that Option A was not deliverable. Two further meetings were scheduled for this week.
Mr George said: "We are working very quickly. I think it is important that the town sees that there is a way of bringing people back together again to unite the town. A new option – called 'Option Pz', because it has come from the people of Penzance and has not been foisted on the town from outside – would provide a stepping stone to a much more ambitious future for Penzance, its harbour and its economy.
"It would secure the Isles of Scilly Ferry Link and give passengers a better service and travelling experience."
But a spokesman for Cornwall Council said: "We've looked at a total of 14 sites over an eight-year period and taken expert advice on finding the best solution for a multi-million pound scheme. What can seem like a good idea can quickly fall apart when put under proper scrutiny by people qualified to do so.
"Any scheme of this size would take a significant period of time and money to work up and this timescale is not available to us."
Mr George held the meetings in the wake of persistent claims by Cornwall Council's executive member for highways, transportation and planning, Graeme Hicks, that it was "Option A or nothing" if the sea link was to remain in Penzance.
In a letter to The Cornishman last week, Mr Hicks compared the claims of the Friends of Penzance Harbour with those of "Nazi propagandists".
At a meeting of Penzance Town Council on Monday night, councillors said they were meeting Mr Hicks on Monday to discuss Option A. But concerns were raised as to whether he should continue in his post following the letter.
Cornwall Council said it had received 12 formal complaints about the letter, which were being scrutinised by its monitoring officers.
'True Friends'
Around 1,700 people have now signed a petition organised by Penzance Chamber of Commerce and the Penzance and District Tourism Association calling for Option A to go ahead. Members of the two organisations, who have now formed a group under the title "True Friends of Penzance and the Isles of Scilly", have been at the Wharfside shopping centre for three Saturdays in a row.
This weekend, they were joined by the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for St Ives, Derek Thomas, who also signed the petition.
Chamber chairman Mike Waters has responded to criticism in letters sent to The Cornishman last week.
He said: "Contrary to letters published in The Cornishman (last week), nobody signed the petition without us making absolutely sure that they knew what they were signing for.
"We were subjected to more abuse this week than we have been in previous weeks. At the same time more people this week simply walked up to the table and signed the petition."
13 Comments
View all
by Regeneration not Degeneration, Penzance.
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:24PM
“Dear Dis Res.
Yes we changed the presentation because we responded to criticism on here and in the Cornishman that it was not clear enough so we made it clearer, the message however remained the same.
Isn't that what you wanted ?
If we had left it as it was would you not have complained further ?
You're damned if You do and You're damned if you don't !!
I can assure you that we are campaigning to save the Scilly link.
The link will not be able to stay here unless option A goes ahead.
How is that misleading ?
If anyone believes we collected their signatures under false pretences and they want their names removed then please let us know and we will remove them.
All other option have been considered (at tax payers expense) and found to be uneconomic to run, too expensive to build or impractical so we're left with Option A or no link.”
by Disappointed Resident, Penzance
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 12:05PM
“Regeneration not Degeneration, Penzance
In your own comment you have admitted that you have change your presentation quote ¿The only reason the presentation has changed in any way is to make it even clearer what people are signing for.
I can assure you that campaigning with the slogan ¿Save the Scilly Link¿ or words to that effect and using the phrase ¿they want to lose us the Scilly Link is most definitely misleading. And I can assure you I have spoken to many that agree with me further more it also fits with much of the other comments made by Mr. Waters and Co.
Refine it you may but you cannot undo those signatures that you have already collected. It also fits with your use of Regeneration not Degeneration, Penzance Those that oppose option 'A' do not wish for Penzance to degenerate they just want a better solutiont than this distructive scheme.
This will be my last comment on the subject so over to you.”
by Regeneration not Degeneration, Penzance
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 10:46AM
“There is no way you could be misled into signing the petition in support of Option A.
There are large banners stating the object of the petition and we are constantly under scrutiny from fopzh.
Old mike himself came down to see what we were doing last week.
The only reason the presentation has changed in any way is to make it even clearer what people are signing for.
We do not need to mislead anyone to sign there are plenty of people who are more than willing and who are angry that the fopzh have wasted so much time on this, not to mention our tax money (5 Million so far) which could be spent on more useful things like hospital beds.
If you really were there then you would know what I'm saying is true, for every objector there are at least 20 people who are signing the petition in favour of option A.
Disappointed Resident of Mars.
Quote "I know by commenting again I will be deluged with the usual ¿if we don¿t have ¿A¿ we will loose the link ¿¿other options have been fully explored¿ ¿it¿s the cheapest option¿"
You know these are the facts but still refuse to believe them. There's no point trying to have any sort of rational dialogue with you until you accept this and move on.
Your whole purpose here seems to be to continue to spread misinformation and to cast doubt on the validity of the support for option A.”
by Disappointed Resident, Penzance
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:56PM
“Sir Pz
Cute use of the three clicks. I take it that your one that sees no wrong in the Cllr Hicks rant
Thanks for not disappointing me.”
by Sir, PZ
Friday, February 05 2010, 3:50PM
“another carefully timed message from dissappointed resident hoping to be top of the page over the weekend whilst other messages stack up on the moderators que.
Very Cute.
Again no evidence of a workable solution just the usual ''surely there must be another way'' it's like watching the yellow brick road, maybe if Mr Maggs clicks his heals three times the elusive alternative will just appear.”