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Port to get 'lease of life' |
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
Plans for a £7 million fish market at Newlyn in West Cornwall have been hailed as offering a new lease of life to the industry.
Penwith
planners this week granted permission to the ambitious Objective
One-backed scheme which will replace the town's crumbling fish market.
"This
new fish market will herald a bright new dawn for the fishing
industry," said Penwith district councillor and Newlyn resident Malcolm
Pilcher. "It is central to the regeneration of the whole of Newlyn."
The new market will replace the current building, which does not comply with modern standards.
Work could start next year on building the new market alongside the old one, which will eventually be demolished.
Coun
Pilcher said the new facility had the potential to be used for a number
of other events, such as antique fairs and farmers' markets.
"It
will be an open and welcoming place with public viewing encouraged and
several adjacent units which could be used for restaurants or shops,"
he said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that without this new fish market, the fishing industry in Newlyn would have died.
"No change was not an option here.
"I know of boats which land their stock in Newlyn then take it up to Plymouth because the facilities are better up there.
"A new market will end all of that and I think more boats will use Newlyn."
Paul
Trebilcock, of the Newlyn Fish Producers' Organisation, also welcomed
the scheme being given the go-ahead. But he said fishermen still wanted
reassurances that using the new facilities would not be
price-prohibitive.
"The principal of improving Newlyn fish
market is a good thing," he said. "Ensuring that fish which is well
looked after on boats is well looked after through the selling process
is very positive."
Mr Trebilcock said fishermen had not yet been informed what charges would be applied to anyone using the new market.
"We are 100 per cent behind improving the market, but people want their minds put at rest about the cost," he added.
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