Planning application withdrawn
12/6/09Cornwall Council has withdrawn the Route Partnership’s planning application to build a new freight and passenger facility for the Isles of Scilly Link on Battery Rocks beach. The Friends of Penzance Harbour have welcomed the news and congratulated local people for successfully defending their historic harbour and seafront.
The decision comes after the public in Penzance twice rejected the content of Route Partnership exhibitions and subsequently wrote close to 700 letters objecting to the planning application. Local elections also saw most candidates coming out against the plans and no known supporter was elected in the Penzance area. Building on the beach at Battery Rocks was never going to be acceptable to the people of Penzance and it is excellent news that this option has now finally been ruled out by Cornwall Council. The "Harbour Revision Order" that authorises the filling in of the beach must now also be withdrawn.
The move by Cornwall Council comes mid-way through an initial review of alternative locations for the passenger and freight facilities. The Friends of Penzance Harbour will continue to offer their assistance in this process, but it is essential that the lessons of the Battery Rocks beach scheme are learnt and that the alternative that is finally chosen is one that carries the support of local people and provides for the needs not just of the Scillies but Penzance too.
Cornwall Council press release : download pdf | view pdf
Andrew George statement