|
A former chairman of Penwith Council is calling on the people
of West Cornwall to "get on board" with the proposals
for the regeneration of Newlyn Harbour and to stop being "negative
and reactive" to the plans.
Malcolm Pilcher, who represents Penzance South Ward on the council,
is also a member of the Fish Industry Forum and has been involved
with the regeneration proposals for the port of Newlyn as well as
for Penzance Harbour, Penlee Quarry and Hayle Harbour, from the
very beginning.
But Mr Pilcher said that he is now extremely disappointed with
the negative and reactive reactions by some factions of the community
to the proposals to develop and regenerate the area.
"I am fed up with Penwith being a backwater," said Mr
Pilcher.
"I see the redevelopment of Newlyn as a great opportunity
for the whole of West Cornwall, especially for our young people.
"But there are a lot of Luddites around who don't want Penwith
to change - and if we are not careful these people could keep the
area as a backwater for the next 50 years."
Mr Pilcher said that Newlyn is the biggest employer in the area
and that £4 million worth of grants have already been secured
for the redevelopment and updating of the port.
"We cannot stand still. We have got to move on," said
Mr Pilcher.
"Government departments are fully supportive of all the projects
in Mount's Bay and all of us here in Penwith need to get on board
as well."
Mr Pilcher said each of the projects - the proposed new Scillonian
terminal at Penzance Harbour; the Seafood Park and new fish market
in Newlyn, the boatyard at Sandy Cove and the Penlee Quarry Marina
development - were all interlinked.
"If we lose these projects the alternatives, in my opinion,
would be disastrous and Penwith would be in danger of becoming another
Blackpool or Margate," said Mr Pilcher.
"These projects are not just about fishing, but involve housing
issues and the arts as well. We have a unique opportunity here to
develop Penwith in a sustainable and sensitive way that will provide
a future for our young people."
Mr Pilcher, who is a local businessman and employer, said that
he has been in talks with businessmen throughout the country and
that there was great interest in West Cornwall.
"The eyes of the City of London are on Penwith at the moment,"
he said.
"They believe, and I believe too, that West Cornwall has a
fantastic future ahead of it, but I also believe that this is the
last chance saloon for Penwith.
"The fishing industry might be in trouble at the moment, but
Newlyn has been approached by the French, Irish and Belgium fishing
industry who have said they would land at Newlyn if the facilities
were updated, making it the most important landing port in the country.
"We should not be opposing changes at Newlyn. It is time for
the good people of Penwith to stand up and be counted and work together
to achieve a better place for people to live and work in."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
 |
