Route Partnership defy public and submit Battery Rocks planning application
25/2/09The overwhelming majority of the public are against their plans, Penzance Town Council voted unanimously to oppose them, the Department of Transport are concerned enough to have requested an independent review, and there is no rush since funding for the project is not in danger, yet Liberal Democrats at County Hall have allowed the Route Partnership to push ahead with a planning application! This is an insult to local people, a waste of taxpayer's money, and shows what a sham the "consultation" process has been.
Those elected to represent us should have stopped the Route Partnership from proceeding in this way. Opposition to the scheme is not based solely on matters that can be considered as part of the planning application process and these other issues should have been resolved before any planning application was made. The planning application will now get in the way of genuine attempts to find a popular solution to the needs of the Isles of Scilly Link and is an entirely counter-productive and unhelpful development.
The Route Partnership lodged their planning application with Penwith District Council on Friday 20th February. The application is going through a “validation” process; when complete a notice will appear in the Cornishman. From then the public has three weeks to object.
At the moment it is not clear when the planning application will be considered or which planning committee will consider it. The last Penwith District Council planning committee meeting (before Penwith is replaced by the new Unitary Authority) is on March 10th, too soon for this application to be considered by it. The application may go before a special Unitary Authority transitional planning sub-committee for the “West Area” sub-region (it’s first meeting is in early April), but if there is any significant delay in processing the application it could end up being considered by the new Unitary Authority’s planning committee (after the June elections). Watch our web site for news in this regard.
The Friends of Penzance Harbour will object to the plans and continue to promote less destructive alternatives that bring real benefits to the town of Penzance.
A guide to help others object to the planning application is being prepared and will be available on the web site.
What you can do to help stop the Route Partnership scheme (2.3) : download pdf | view pdf
Cornishman article.