|
A beach along Penzance Promenade is what an overwhelming number of people
would like to see, according to the public consultations for development
proposals for Penzance and Newlyn harbours.
 Results
of the research released this week showed that 81 per cent of the comment
sheets returned as part of the Mount's Bay public consultations supported
a Promenade beach, which could cost in the region of £8.8 million.
Opinion on how this might be achieved was evenly split with the creation
of a high level beach along the entire face of the Promenade wall coming
out on top at 47 per cent.
The Mount's Bay technical investigations revealed that this would need
large offshore rock breakwaters - which would be visible even at high
tide - in order to prevent it being washed out into the bay said Penzance
regeneration manager, Nigel Horwell.
He pointed out that DEFRA was responsible for coastal protection and
flood prevention and its policy for this stretch of coastline was to "hold
the line".
Mr Horwell said: "In order to create a beach we would have to persuade
them to 'advance the line'. However, there is undoubted economic regeneration
potential in creating a beach and Hyder (the company carrying out the
technical investigations) is exploring this to arrive at a value-for-money
argument which we hope will be attractive to other potential funders."
The consultations also showed a similar high level of support for improvements
to existing facilities for harbour and business users at Penzance and
the "lifeline" link to the Isles of Scilly.
There was less agreement on where these facilities should be located,
but 57 per cent preferred development on the southern side of Lighthouse
Pier.
Mr Horwell explained: "Since the consultation we have explored this
option with Hyder Consulting. There are obvious advantages with this option
in that it offers the location of a new passenger terminal and cargo handling
facilities adjacent to a permanent, all-weather berth for the Scillonian.
"However, it would be built in deeper water and hence would cost
£10m more than a similar facility located to the south of the wet
dock - the south pier option.
"The development is more closely integrated with the existing townscape
and it represents something that the funders believe offers better value
for money. Hence we have gone for the south pier option."
Over at Newlyn, 425 people attended the Fishermen's Mission to view the
proposals for Newlyn and Penlee and 230 comment sheets were completed.
Newlyn Fisheries Industry Officer Tony Woodhams said: "This is an
excellent response rate and confirms the high level of interest in the
proposals contained in the Newlyn Strategy.
"Sixty-eight per cent of responses to the question 'do you support
the idea that these proposals are essential to secure the future of Newlyn
and the fishing industry?' either strongly supported or supported the
proposals. Support for the modified proposals for the fish market, marina
facilities and boat maintenance facilities at Sandy Cove were even higher
(65-77 per cent)."
He added: "Hyder is continuing to work with the Newlyn Pier &
Harbour Commissioners on a business viability study for developing the
harbour."
Ian George, Hyder's project manage, said: "Because of the high cost
of developing the present Newlyn Strategy we have used 'value management'
principles to explore what other options are available to the commissioners.
As a result some changes are being proposed which are at present being
consulted upon within the industry."
A final exhibition of proposals will be staged on Friday and Saturday,
January 14 and 15, at St John's Hall for Penzance Harbour and the Promenade.
This will be followed by an exhibition in the Fishermen's Mission in late
January or February on the updated proposals for Penlee Quarry.
Whether the revised Newlyn proposals would be ready for this latter exhibition
would be "touch and go", said Mr Woodhams.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
 |
