THE PROPOSERS and objectors to the Penzance Harbour regeneration scheme have met for the first time.

The meeting between the Route Partnership and the Friends of Penzance Harbour was organised by MP Andrew George to discuss alternative solutions to the need to improve passenger and freight handling for the new ferry and freight ship which will serve the Isles of Scilly.

Debate

Mr George says the purpose of these talks was not to debate the merits or otherwise of the current proposals because these differences will 'never be resolved'. He said: "The talks are to jointly explore and to assess the merits of alternatives to that scheme.

"The discussions have, so far, proven to be cordial and constructive. Those advocating alternative options acknowledge that further work and evidence is needed. Equally, the Route Partnership is not dismissing these alternatives out of hand, but is prepared to explore them further."

Meanwhile the Friends of the Jubilee Pool in Penzance have unanimously voted to actively campaign against the proposed Route Partnership scheme.

At their Annual General Meeting last week, the committee of the Friends agreed to work with other groups opposing the current scheme, including Penzance Civic Society and The Friends of Penzance Harbour in seeking a review of the preferred option currently being pursued by the Route Partnership scheme.

They say the listed Jubilee Pool is the proposed development's nearest neighbour and if it goes ahead the Friends believe it will have a hugely detrimental effect on the immediate environment and the setting of the pool.

Serious reservations

"The Friends have serious reservations about the scheme in its current form on both design and environmental grounds. Furthermore given the construction methods proposed we have legitimate concerns about the how the structure of the pool, a fragile listed structure will be affected by the building process itself."

The Cornishman has been asked to point out that John Maggs represents the Friends of Penzance Harbour not the Penzance Harbour Users as reported last week on page 8.