Time running out for £10m ferry link

“The heart of the problem is that the Minister's alternative plan for the Isles of Scilly is under-funded, high risk and, by relying on ERDF funding, is currently undeliverable.

It is high risk because it makes the private sector operator (IOSSCo) responsible for vessel replacement and the current operator does not have the commercial borrowing power to buy an acceptable ferry vessel hence a further extension of the Scillonian III's life. The sealink has always been marginal economically and is part of the reason why the Government had to fund a substantial part of the current vessel with a 12 year interest free loan in 1977. If the private sector cannot replace the ferry then some kind of Government intervention would be needed and this would require some kind of competition for the service. It is impossible to guess the outcome of such a competition and with current works at Penzance based upon "business as usual", Cornwall Council could easily front up say £1.5 million for technical studies, detailed design and relocation of business only to be told a second time that, regrettably the goal posts had moved.

The reduced budget has meant that only limited dredging is possible at Penzance. Originally a berth with 4 metres of water was envisaged to allow the operator to buy a second hand vessel with a standard hull (there are lots available). Such dredging would have absorbed all of the DFT funding and was abandoned. The operator has found it virtually impossible to find second hand ferry vessels that could work the IOS route without modification to the hull to allow the vessel to routinely take the seabed. Such modifications are expensive and carry technical risk.
The current ERDF programme finishes in at the end of 2015. Because of completion bonds and other factors this means any ERDF funded works must have a very high probability of being completed by the end of 2014. Given the time to move businesses, complete studies/detailed design, obtain permissions, put the work out to international competitive tender and build the resulting project there appears to be insufficient time.

From a practical view point the St Mary's project looks like it could go ahead because the detailed design is complete. It is unlikely to go ahead because a political decision was taken by the Minister not to allow the St Mary's end to proceed without an agreed solution at Penzance. As it appears impossible to deliver the Penzance end in time to achieve ERDF funding, both projects look likely fail.

So where that that leave us with this ongoing Greek tragedy? It is likely that it will be a case of going right back to the beginning. The IOS Council have prepared the ground with their study comparing their transport arrangements with the Scottish Islands where there is a public subsidy. What will bring matters to a head will be the decision by BIH regarding the future of the helicopter service. I am reassured to read that the Minister (Norman Baker MP) said "I am happy to accept it's a lifeline connection" - if he had not come to that conclusion then he would have been in for a rude wake-up call in October.

What is scary about the developing situation is that significant damage to the IOS economy now appears difficult to avoid (with knock on implications for Penzance) before the issue of transport to the IOS is taken seriously.”

“This has turned into a blame game.
Penzance the loser.
Once this 10 mill harbour feung shuey project fails {and it will} Pz needs to address the very imminent prob of new boats/boat.”

“Whilst the recent focus of harbour regeneration has been almost exclusively upon the need to support and underpin the continued presence of the Isle of Scilly ferry service the future expansion of economic activity will depend not on just retaining existing business but on growing new business and more fully exploiting the maritime sector.”

“Yep that sounds right! Stubborn people that are hell bent on letting PZ rot away by refusing the development of the rust bucket Harbour and pile of old rocks.....trust PZ to turn down multi million pound developments of their town and improvements to tourist attractions/links in a time of recession. Thank you to the campaigners for all your hard work in foiling our councils ambitious bid to transform an eye sore into something keeping with this millennium, create jobs and attract more visitors. GOOD VISION! At least they are helping the local shops in town by putting a Sainsbury's in-between Tescos and Morison's....oh no wait... All this to come back to after University....or not, what's the point :(”

“The failure of this project lies on the shoulders of those who led the crusade to scupper this scheme. FOPZH and it's leader John Mags.

To turn around now and pretend FOPZH never existed and blame the council is a farce.

In Hine sight we can now see what the loss has cost us, as the children of penzance have two choices, move away or go on benefits. Even the people who supported FOPZH must look at the situation now and say to themselves "I can believe we did this to our town to save a stupid rotten wall".”

“So what's the hold up? I thought progress was being made.

It all seems to come back to Cornwall Council and their intransigence.”

“Penzance Harbour Users Association has a marvellous plan that would bring economic and other benefits for future generations in West Cornwall.
You could look at it on their website but someone keeps knocking it out - and has done so for some years!!”

“Just because it eventually had to bow to common sense and public opinion, after squandering huge sums of public money and engaging in person insult and disinformation, the battered Cornwall Council now SULKS and won't fulfil it's clear public duty to advance an acceptable, workable scheme. What a shower!”