Petition backs ferry link scheme
THE saga over the future of Penzance Harbour has taken another twist after more than 700 people signed a petition calling for a rejected scheme to go ahead.
Campaigners backing the single freight and passenger handling facility for the Isles of Scilly ferry collected the signatures at the weekend.
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Penzance
Such is the enthusiasm with which the petition has been received, organisers expect 2,000 names by the weekend.
However, opponents of the plan, known as Option A, poured scorn on the petition's wording, condemning it as misleading.
Penzance Chamber of Commerce chairman Mike Waters shrugged off the criticism and said town's people were standing up and being counted.
"This is a real benchmark of how people in Penzance feel about the plans for the harbour," he said. "A number of people did walk by or refuse to sign, but lots more wanted to talk to us about the plans.
"It was very encouraging to get so many signatures, especially on a soggy Saturday afternoon."
Mr Waters said he and a team of volunteers, including members of the Penzance and District Tourism Association, brought photos of the proposed scheme to show shoppers.
"The majority of people were interested and very surprised at the pictures because they hadn't seen them," he said.
"People thought the proposed building would be much bigger and more intrusive. Of those that we spoke to around 20 stated that they were not in favour when initially asked.
"But when they were shown the artist's impression of how the scheme looked and were advised of the background to the scheme, they changed their minds and signed the petition."
The controversial scheme for the Isles of Scilly link appeared to have been dealt a fatal blow in December when Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee threw out an application for Option A. Many members were persuaded by a last- minute objection to the scheme delivered by English Heritage.
However, the Route Partnership consortium, which is steering the bid and is led by Cornwall Council, has refused to concede and insists Option A is still the only viable way forward.
John Maggs, spokesman for Friends of Penzance Harbour, which favours Option C, an alternative split site facility featuring an out-of-town freight handling facility, rejected the petition results.
He said the wording "misleads signatories" on the economic sustainability of the scheme and the chances of it moving to Falmouth.
"Clearly what signatures have been acquired have been acquired by misleading the public into believing that Option A is the only option for Penzance and that Falmouth is a viable alternative," he said.
"The fact that they talk about 'economic sustainability' in respect of Option A but not in respect of moving the link to Falmouth is further evidence of their bad faith.
"IF I believed what they said in the petition I would have signed it. That both the main propositions are demonstrably false makes a mockery of what signatures they have collected."
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by s. collins, near penzance
Thursday, March 04 2010, 3:20PM
“nobody amongst your correspondents seems to have picked up on the fact that the people of West Penwith voted 89% against a unitary authority in the first place. If Penwith District Council were still our Authority the Option A scheme would have been rejected at once. Why are the younger people who have written such spiteful and incorrect letters so against anyone who is a bit older and wiser ?
Those in the Friends of Penzance Harbour Group are standing up for Penzance to remain a historical town and also to save an area that people have swum in for many years. They are not fuddy duddies as has been stated, just people wo do not want ugly structures to ruin the seafront. If people spent some time to read all the facts and had been to the exhibitions they would see that Option C or the new Option are the only reasonable ideas. Stop being so childish and forget how old people are. Older people are just as entitled to their opinions as you younger ones are and, are probably a lot wiser too. Seeing some of your spiteful remarks it wouldn't be very difficult tobe wiser.
Grow up and realise that The Route Partnership isn't the slightest bit worried about how they spoil Penzance seafront by their hideous buildings but only to make a lot of money.
Finally isn't it rather corrupt of an authority that is supposed to carry out the wishes of those who voted for them also part of the Route Partnership ? This is something that nobody has commented on before but I feel that it should be illegal to be oart of a Company and also be members of a Unitary Authority. Does anyone else have any views on this aspect of things.
How sad that these people have divided us and no doubt are finding the situation very amusing.
Let us use some common sense and use the buildings already suggested for terminals etc. and not cause any more mess and disruption that would ruin two holiday seasons..
Falmouth is not an option and has been thrown into the ring by Graham Hicks and MIke Waters as a red herring that unfortunately some unwise people have SWALLOWED. No pun intended but maybe it is best to end on a happier note.”
by simon adkins, penzance
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 11:38AM
“I' for one and for the development of penzance. This is a great plan and very well supported by most everyone i know in the area. there are a few loud mouthed objectors who mistakenly beleve the speak for the whole town. Well news flash, 700 objectors out of atown of 20000+ people, not including the sorounding areas is not a majority. i take heart that the petitions in support of the development are now comming out among the social networking sites. its also nice to see they also link to the objectiors petition so us preople of penzance have a choice on which box to tick. a forward thinking town is what we need here, not an old run down long forgoten ghost town.”
by Local Resident, Gulval
Thursday, January 21 2010, 5:12PM
“In reply...J Southern
The young people are out there alright trying to work and get a foot on the property ladder..
Not retired swanning off around the country and doing the odd bit of gardening whilst trying to squeeze every last penny out of a potential local house buyer...
Bet you would sell out to anyone who offered the full asking price eh J southen??
In regards the Location....correct...it isnt the best idea....but its all we have left to play with.
The argument about Duchy of Cornwall is a mute point, infact pretty pathetic...
The town will die (faster) without this link,.,...
Penzance is a dump.....get with it and realise anything that improves long term is beneficial.
Sure people are going to make money off the back of this scheme but that is the way society is.
John Maggs Charlie Cartwright and co. would gain a lot more respectability if they were to sign a discalaimer that they will not stand to benefit financially from either the improvement or removal of the ferry link., for a period of say 10yrs.....and that goes for anyone else who carries weight behind any vociferous campaign.....how about that Maggs??????
Didnt think so....I wonder why?
Peace out”
by mark, Newlyn
Thursday, January 21 2010, 2:45PM
“Any suggestion we build by the train and bus stations would be best suited is impractical and wrong . We do no t have the necessary depth of water or shelter to run from this site, as is the case @ Long rock.
Running east from the Battery rocks (the point from which PZ was founded, which translates as "the holy headland" the area in question is in fact the barbican area, (the blue telescope, east of battery rocks & the Jubilee Pool )The proposed site is not best suited as it would in effect be moving the harbour mouth further east, making it far more difficult to land shipping into this area although, we do have the necessary depth here (finding of the at Atkins report) & also moving further out into the SW prevailing wind. It is also less beneficial to the whole community and the flow rate from land is not the best.
In my opinion and many whom know the area from a shipping point of view , the best fit for the community and for practical reasons would be running west from battery rocks ,running parallel to the promonade. This is the best fit for so many reasons.
We have the depth of water needed,
We kill two birds with one stone as we save on having to continual repair the Prom. On a construction level we have a reef on which we could build the outer breakwater,
we have the necessary shelter.
We would be creating better flow rate from shore and the benefits to the community would be massive,
the real danger through with this Falmouth issue is frankly blackmail and is completely wrong and is repeating the sketck whereby PZ lost a chance at having a university Campus in its area, which was lost due to internal backstabbing.. also we wouldn't be able to run a boat from Falmouth due to the sailing time, hydrofoil or not.
It feels that the people whom actually have any experience as normal are being ignored and it is being out into a purely political reasoning, sound familiar”
by mark, newlyn
Thursday, January 21 2010, 1:22PM
“Because when we do stand up the old guard shoot us down again and again. aged 39yrs.”