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A SOLE objector to a document which sets out to
change the power base of Newlyn could cost the port hundreds of
thousands of pounds in public inquiry expenses.
The
protester, whose identity is unconfirmed, has stalled plans to elect a
new board of harbour commissioners by lodging an objection to Newlyn's
Revision Order with the Secretary of State.
The
order, which was drafted to bring the Harbour Commission into line with
the Government's 2000 Guide to Good Governance, must be supported by
everyone to be implemented.
A
Department of Transport spokesman confirmed that unless the commission
can negotiate and persuade the objector to withdraw, it must make a
request to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry.
"This will be implemented unless the Secretary of State considers the objection is frivolous or trivial," he said.
A harbour commissioner said the expense of a public hearing would
have to be paid by the commission and raised through the industry.
"I can't understand why it's being delayed, personally," he said. "The annoying thing would be to have somebody stop progress."
A public inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by the Government.
Interested
members of the public and organisations may not only make written
evidential submissions as is the case with most inquiries, but also
listen to oral evidence given by other parties.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN
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The Harbour Commissioners cannot claim any credit because of their long failure to get a grip of a situation that has arisen from weakness and incompetence on a monumental scale. In failing to deliver the facilities quite reasonably expected by modern go ahead vessel operators they have driven them elsewhere probably never to return. This is a tragic loss to Newlyn, Penwith and ultimately to Cornwall.