More EU money gone begging

[Scillypete]

Cornwall council planners have managed to kick a perfect opportunity to give the harbour at Penzance a much needed facelift and improvement and at the same time leave us islanders in something of a quandry.
See http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/hom...PLAN-SUNK/article-1609071-detail/article.html

How is it that if EU money is offered to build harbours in any other european country they are built in short order but in this country every Nimby and anyone against progress jumps up and down big style to hold things up long enough for the funding to disappear. I fear not only for our future livelihoods in Scilly but for those in Penzance as well because the place is a dump and in serious need of help.

 

[timbartlett]

It's so that the Europhobes can whinge about the UK not getting its "fair share" of EU money.

Mind you, even when we do get EU money, the placards -- that in any other country would be advertising as "paid for by the EU" -- over here will ignore the millions poured in from the EU, and instead claim that the project is funded by some local quango that has contributed ninepence of someone else's money.

 

[sailorman]

It's so that the Europhobes can whinge about the UK not getting its "fair share" of EU money.

Mind you, even when we do get EU money, the placards -- that in any other country would be advertising as "paid for by the EU" -- over here will ignore the millions poured in from the EU, and instead claim that the project is funded by some local quango that has contributed ninepence of someone else's money.

the A14 was altered @ "The Haughley Bends" near Stowmarket.
the little EU sign went up after completion

 

[phantomlady]

Cornwall council planners have managed to kick a perfect opportunity to give the harbour at Penzance a much needed facelift and improvement and at the same time leave us islanders in something of a quandry.
See http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/hom...PLAN-SUNK/article-1609071-detail/article.html

How is it that if EU money is offered to build harbours in any other european country they are built in short order but in this country every Nimby and anyone against progress jumps up and down big style to hold things up long enough for the funding to disappear. I fear not only for our future livelihoods in Scilly but for those in Penzance as well because the place is a dump and in serious need of help.

I agree with you wholeheartedly!!

 

[Ubergeekian]

Cornwall council planners have managed to kick a perfect opportunity to give the harbour at Penzance a much needed facelift and improvement and at the same time leave us islanders in something of a quandry.
See http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/hom...PLAN-SUNK/article-1609071-detail/article.html

That's the plan that was going to destroy much of the historic harbour and overshadow the rest with a vast and ugly building, and which has been generating virulent protests across Penzanze, Penwith and the rest of Cornwall, is it?

 

[Scillypete]

That's the plan that was going to destroy much of the historic harbour and overshadow the rest with a vast and ugly building, and which has been generating virulent protests across Penzanze, Penwith and the rest of Cornwall, is it?

You seen the plan then? 'cos there is no "vast and ugly building" save for that which is there already. Yes the plan was for a new passenger terminal and enhancement of the quay but it was by no means vast or ugly and the historic part of the harbour is not about to be destroyed. As is normally the case a small band have vigorously and very loudly protested whereas the majority of locals have no particular objection in fact those in business near the harbour are mostly for it as they can see the need for improvement.

 

[Ubergeekian]

As is normally the case a small band have vigorously and very loudly protested whereas the majority of locals have no particular objection in fact those in business near the harbour are mostly for it as they can see the need for improvement.

According to the Friends of Penzance Harbour, 9 out of 10 locals surveyed were against it: http://www.friendsofpzharbour.org/

 

[doug748]

I don't have an opinion one way or another on the Harbour plan, except that such a modest and needed little improvement should not be beyond the wit of man to complete to everyones satisfaction.
A marina would be a massive asset to Penzance, we could wait forever for that one though...
Don't get me started on poor old Hayle - a new master plan in the Cornishman every 3 months - for the last 25 years.

 

[Scillypete]

According to the Friends of Penzance Harbour, 9 out of 10 locals surveyed were against it

Having scanned through the site I cannot find the reference to the poll so cannot comment on its validity, but would definitely call it into question. One small point you may not be aware of is that the loudest of the group 'Friends of PZ harbour' is an ex employee of the Steamship Co and has had an axe to grind at anything the Co has been involved in since he left.

And Doug 748 Hayle is just another example of how set against progress some are in the SW. With a little more open thinking the possibilities would be fantastic bringing a massive boost to the economy of the area.

missed opportunities

 

[halcyon]

Having scanned through the site I cannot find the reference to the poll so cannot comment on its validity, but would definitely call it into question.

There has been a lot of moaning on the radio, but I thought it was allied to the container terminal they want to build by infilling Battery rock.

They are claiming there is room down by the station, for the container side of the expansion.

Last I heard if Penzance fell through, they were transfering to Falmouth docks, we got plenty of room. Though last week they were saying they now had the funds for Penzance, so do they or not ?

Brian

 

[Scillypete]

There has been a lot of moaning on the radio, but I thought it was allied to the container terminal they want to build by infilling Battery rock.

They are claiming there is room down by the station, for the container side of the expansion.

Last I heard if Penzance fell through, they were transfering to Falmouth docks, we got plenty of room. Though last week they were saying they now had the funds for Penzance, so do they or not ?

Brian

The funding was in place (so long as all was ratified by a date in January) for plan A which was to build freight and passenger terminal at battery rocks, extend and improve the quay at St Mary's and provide a new vessel for the link. As the planners have now rejected the plan A option at Penzance and any other option will now not be ratified before the closing date on the funding then that is likely to be withdrawn, especially in the current economic climate. Interesting times. For a link to Falmouth to be feasible then the vessel required needs to be high speed and I cannot see any realistic development there just yet.

Personally I stopped sailing to Penzance years ago, the harbour is the pits, if I have to stop in the area then I stop at Mousehole.

 

[halcyon]

The funding was in place (so long as all was ratified by a date in January) for plan A which was to build freight and passenger terminal at battery rocks, extend and improve the quay at St Mary's and provide a new vessel for the link. As the planners have now rejected the plan A option at Penzance

Is this a new Cornwall Coucil thing.

A few months back they mouted the Falmouth thing on Radio Cornwall, then next week said that Penzance had been agreed , bar the container terminal which alternate site would be looked at. There is a developement by Falmouth docks that has now been thown out due to safety about storage at the Falmouth docks. This was a conversion on a pub, that goes back to the 1800's, and outside the marina house developement.

Agree Penzance is bad, would prefere to have rebuilt all around the deep water dock, get rid of the old hulks, new terminal. Though cannot see why they need a container ( I assume small containers ) terminal on site. You could do this out of town and ship in to dock for trans-shipment.

Probably end up with all the plans for Falmouth, in the bin.

Brian

 

[fisherman]

Can't see Falmouth as an alternative. Any increase in the already high cost to visitors, day trippers and freight may tip the balance and cause a huge drop in revenue on the islands. As an occcasional visitor I find it barely affordable now. Mind you, making it more exclusive would suit some people.
Did they consider Newlyn at all? Disused south pier with a large area of waste ground behind it.
As usual the objectors will drive the project out of time regardless of the rights and wrongs.

I often look at Penzance, the car park where the harbour was, and imagine it like Perros Guirec, there would be your Marina. Same with Truro, Lemon Quay. Can't figure out why they found it such a good idea to get rid of the water everywhere. Kow-towing to the great god Car.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

Got to say I like Penzance as it is and always chose it in preference to Newlyn. It's good to see the Gry Maratha ( spelling?) operating out of there to supply Scilly, so for once I would support the planners.

The change proposed is only so they can make do with one ship to supply Scilly rather than 2 smaller ones.

 

[fisherman]

It's good to see the Gry Maratha ( spelling?)
QUOTE]

Grim Urethra, I'm afraid.

 

[Ubergeekian]

And Doug 748 Hayle is just another example of how set against progress some are in the SW. With a little more open thinking the possibilities would be fantastic bringing a massive boost to the economy of the area.

Could you explain how this would happen? Is there a massive untapped demand for trips to Scilly? Could the islands cope with a vast increase in visitors? If it's such a good business deal, why is it dependent on european money?

 

[Bosun Higgs]

There is a fair demand for trips to the Scillies - the islands are full of Froggy boats in season. And we could do with some extra ports on N Cornwall like a useable Hayle.

The EU money. No it's not needed but then just like the Barnet subsidy of Scotland, who is going to refuse a gift horse? There are begging bowls south of the border too!

 

[doug748]

There is a fair demand for trips to the Scillies - the islands are full of Froggy boats in season. And we could do with some extra ports on N Cornwall like a useable Hayle.

The EU money. No it's not needed but then just like the Barnet subsidy of Scotland, who is going to refuse a gift horse? There are begging bowls south of the border too!

Yes, I wonder how many new marina develpments we would have in Brittany without EU cash?
All the yacht traffic tends to bypass Mounts Bay at present. I believe a marina in Penzance would transform the area. Mind you I am quite happy the way it is - basic and friendly.
Sadly, for the residents, some parts of Cornwall begin to look more like Trinidad, pockets of wealth surrounded by the down at heel.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

The harbour problem isnt on the south coast bit though. The problem is that thyere is no real shelter between Penzance and Padstow - and thats a decent sail.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Cornwall council planners have managed to kick a perfect opportunity to give the harbour at Penzance a much needed facelift and improvement and at the same time leave us islanders in something of a quandry.
See http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/hom...PLAN-SUNK/article-1609071-detail/article.html

How is it that if EU money is offered to build harbours in any other european country they are built in short order but in this country every Nimby and anyone against progress jumps up and down big style to hold things up long enough for the funding to disappear. I fear not only for our future livelihoods in Scilly but for those in Penzance as well because the place is a dump and in serious need of help.

Well, when we see that English Heritage got involed, you understand why the scheme got voted down. This organisation is out of control, listing the unlistable and rarely de-listing anything, piling cost and inconvenience on the majority at its whim. The result is paralysis, added costs and blight to our urban landscape.

I pity the folks of Penzance - the town desperately needs to refurbish itself, but until the naysayers are sorted, it will corrode away. Scilly should not accept the outcome - take the link elsewhere I say. Let's move on and leave the Cornish cream brigade on the beach with their knotted handkerchiefs...

PWG