Packed public meeting rejects plan to build on Battery Rocks beach

9/10/09

A public meeting hosted tonight by Andrew George MP drew a huge crowd and resulted in a resounding and close to unanimous rejection of the Route Partnership’s plans to build on Battery Rocks beach; just 3 out of the 500 strong audience voted to support the RP scheme.

The message from the meeting couldn’t have been clearer and Andrew George agreed to make sure that it was communicated to Cornwall Council at the earliest opportunity. An alternative exists, the public in Penzance have made it clear that they will not accept the original scheme, so it is now for Cornwall Council to get on and develop the alternatives.

The panel included the Mayor Roy Mann, local Cornwall councillors Roger Harding and Tamsin Williams, Mike Waters from the Penzance Chamber of Commerce, Mike Sagar-Fenton from Golowan and John Maggs from the Friends of Penzance Harbour.

Graeme Hicks the Cornwall Council portfolio holder responsible for the scheme together with representatives of the Route Partnership and the Council of the Isles of Scilly were invited but declined to participate. Cornwall Council also refused to provide background information for participants at the meeting although Andrew George circulated certain key documents.

St John’s Hall was at capacity for questions and a discussion that was at all times conducted in a calm and courteous manner. After short presentations questions were taken from the floor and a careful discussion about the various options was followed by a vote on which of the options the meeting supported. Just 3 people voted for option A and a freight and passenger terminal on Battery Rocks beach. The remainder of the 500 strong audience voted for option C involving an out of town freight depot and a passenger terminal on an existing harbour side site.

Pictures from the meeting : download pdf | view pdf

See and hear the meeting on YouTube