Public rejects Route Partnership scheme (AGAIN)
20/8/09A poll in last week’s Cornishman newspaper has shown the public to be two to one against the Route Partnership’s scheme to build on Battery Rocks beach, but this is just the most recent in a series of polls showing overwhelming public opposition to the Route Partnership’s plans for Penzance seafront.
The list is a long one:
1. At a Route Partnership (RP) consultation in 2004 the public reject the plan that the RP’s current scheme is based on.
2. The current RP scheme is considered by Penzance Civic Society and rejected.
3. Feedback forms filled in by the public at the September 2008 RP “pre-planning” exhibition show 85% are against the scheme.
4. Feedback forms filled in at the January 2009 repeat RP “pre-planning” exhibition show 65% against the scheme (concerns are raised about the RP biased questionnaire).
5. The Friends of Penzance Harbour exit poll at the same event shows more than 85% against.
6. In February 2009 Penzance Town Council votes against the scheme with just one dissenting voice.
7. In May 2009 planning permission is sought and 672 letters of objection are received by planners; there are just eight letters of support.
8. In June 2009 local elections are held and no candidate comes out in support of the scheme; those that express a view are against.
9. And in last week’s Cornishman poll 66% say “no” to building on Battery Rocks beach.
The Cornishman poll was of course open to anyone who wanted to vote and following active lobbying in support of the RP by interests on the Scillies, including the Tresco Estate, it is likely that many of the “yes” votes came from individuals outside of the Penzance area. Taking this into account it seems likely that opposition to the scheme in the Penzance area has not changed since the RP first presented their plans at the September 2008 “take it or leave it” pre-planning exhibition and 85% rejected them.
Link to Cornishman poll story.