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Investigations of marine and coastal conditions which will provide much-needed
information to the design teams for four major projects in the Mount's
Bay area, are now well under way.
These will be followed by a series of public exhibitions early next month.
The proposals for Penzance, Newlyn and Penlee are:
- Developments at Penzance harbour centre on improving the facilities
for the lifeline link to the Isles of Scilly and creating space in an
already congested harbour while improving the working environment for
existing businesses that are placed around the harbour.
- The study will also encompass proposed sea defence work along Penzance
Promenade.
- Proposals for Newlyn focus on providing new purpose-built facilities
for fishing and supporting industries to regenerate the port, the industry
and the local community.
- The team will also be looking at Marina Developments Ltd's (MDL) proposed
new breakwater and channel which will help turn Penlee Quarry into a
site for a marine and mixed development.
The technical investigations are being undertaken by Hyder Consulting
(UK) Ltd on behalf of a partnership led by the Penwith Council (PNP) team.
The partnership comprises the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commissioners, Penzance
Town Council, Isles of Scilly Steamship Co, Newlyn Fish Industry Forum,
Cornwall County Council, MDL, South West of England Regional Development
Agency, European Regional Development Fund - Objective 1 - through the
Government Office South West.
Penwith Council has secured funding of over £600,000 (including
Objective 1 investment) for the technical investigations to support work
on the harbour developments at Newlyn and Penzance and the promenade.
MDL are also providing funding for elements of the study related to Penlee
Quarry.
"There are significant cost savings to be gained by acquiring the
maritime data for all these developments at the same time" explains
Penzance Regeneration Manager Nigel Horwell.
"Much of the data that will be acquired will be common to each of
the developments. By working in partnership and pooling existing information
we may also be able to make even further cost savings."
The current investigations will enable a clearer picture of the technical
viability of the proposals to be established and will help unlock major
regeneration proposals.
The technical investigations include hydrographic, geotechnical and environmental
surveys to establish existing conditions for use in the next stage in
the design of the facilities.
Project manager for the technical investigations Ian George said: "The
surveys are progressing well and we are on programme to complete work
on site by August.
"The information which we are gathering will help our design teams
to deliver costed concept designs by October this year. We are working
closely with the statutory bodies and key stakeholder to ensure that the
proposals minimise the impact on the environment whilst meeting the needs
of the operators, users and members of the public."
Public exhibitions are planned for Newlyn and Penzance. The Newlyn harbour
and Penlee proposals will be showcased at the Fishermen's Mission on Friday
and Saturday, July 2 and 3, from 8am to 9pm while the Penzance harbour
and promenade options will be featured at the old Vosper's Garage site
in Coinage Hall Street on Friday and Saturday, July 9 and 10, from 8am
to 9pm.
Members of the PNP team will be on hand to listen to views and answer
questions. Both exhibitions will then be transferred to Penwith Council
Offices, St Clare, and will be on display in the main entrance until the
end of July. Alternatively the exhibition material and comments sheet
will be available from July 2 at www.pnpteam.com,
at Penzance Library and at the Fisheries Project Office, 781 The Strand,
Newlyn. There is a Penzance project office at Westloc, High Street, generally
manned from 10am to 4pm Monday to Wednesday.
Nigel Horwell said: "The outline proposals which are currently being
evaluated for their technical viability have been under consideration
for some time, involving previous studies and consultation. These are
being reviewed and refined as part of the technical investigations and
we believe that this is an appropriate time to show the public where we
are in the development."
Comment sheets will be available and the feedback, together with the
findings of the technical investigations, will be used to refine the concept
designs. A subsequent public exhibition of proposals will follow in October.
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