Route Partnership refuses to meet protesters
3/3/09The Route Partnership has refused a request from Andrew George to allow local protesters to attend a meeting between him and Tim Wood, the Route Partnership Project Director.
The Friends of Penzance Harbour were informed of the rebuff during a meeting with Andrew George last week. It again illustrates the high-handed and obstructive manner in which the Route Partnership are attempting to impose their scheme on an unwilling public.
In a press release following the meeting Andrew George called for a delay in the planning application submitted on February 20th so that alternatives can be considered.
He went on to say:
"This is an important project and one I strongly support. But it must not be achieved at any cost. There is widespread public concern about a plan which is going to have a very significant impact on the Penzance waterfront. Concerns don't just reflect worries about the view, amenity, the heritage of the site and its environment. There is also support for constructive proposals for an alternative which might avoid the necessity for this development and present the Route Partnership with a better way forward."
"I have urged the Route Partnership to make sure that the reasonable concerns which have been raised by many local people are given time to be properly considered and not overridden. It would be wrong to rush ahead when there remain so many objections and concerns.”
More time and a greater willingness on the part of the Route Partnership to engage with local people is needed if all alternatives are to be properly considered and a scheme devised that has the support of local people.
Andrew George’s web site.