MP urges thorough consultation
A LOCAL MP has called for the company planning to mine tin off the north Cornish coast to make sure it consults everybody who might be affected by the plans.
St Ives MP Andrew George has contacted the local Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) to ask if the plans by Marine Minerals could have an adverse effect on commercial fishermen.
The head of the authority, Eddy Derriman, responded by letter confirming that this could be the case if the proposals to reclaims deposits of the metal between St Ives and St Agnes went ahead.
He wrote: "If the project comes to fruition and the mining activity starts, then inevitably they will be affected on a practical front and will be required to shift their gear and potentially may be affected if there is any localised impact on fish/shellfish stocks."
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Mr Derriman noted that the licensing authority, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Marine Minerals had undertaken "little, if any, directed consultation ... with the people most likely to be affected, the fishermen".
Mr George said: "I don't think anyone would want to stand in the way of a commercial enterprise that has the potential to generate many jobs and contribute to the local economy, but I also know that the company itself would want all of those who may be affected to be both consulted and considered in its future plans."
He said he would contact the MMO to ask that it made sure that local interests were properly consulted and taken into consideration in future plans.
Last week Marine Minerals was out on its survey boat the MV Flat Holm and commercial director John Sewell said: "It is too early for anyone to make a judgement on the project because we have not even got a method of how we are going to do the work at this stage."
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