THE NEW Newlyn Harbour Commission has come under fire for discussing its plans for the future management of the fishing port in private despite claiming to be more open and transparent.

The chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, Paul Trebilcock, criticised the body following its third meeting on Tuesday.

Within 30 minutes of opening the meeting, the authority agreed to exercise its right to exclude the press and public to discuss the controversial fish market plans in private.

Unconvinced

"They made a lot of noise about the fact that they are going to be transparent but they are not and that's disappointing," Mr Trebilcock said.

"I have not heard anything from the commission that I haven't heard before so I don't feel anything has really changed since they took up their posts.

"The majority of fishermen are still unconvinced that things will change for the better."

The commissioners were expected to express their intent on whether or not to go forward with the £5 million plans.

The body needs to find match funding to meet the conditional offer of a £2.3 million from the European Fisheries Fund to regenerate the market.

During the meeting, however, chairman Gilbert McCabe only briefly informed the participants that he had met with Cornwall Council's cabinet member for Economic Development, Carolyn Rule, on Monday, to discuss the plans, which he said she now supported.

He also stated that there would be an independent financial health check into the economics of the market.

"There's no extension to the deadline or the amount of money and we have to move as quickly as possible," he added.

Ms Rule has confirmed that she will be taking a report to the cabinet on July 14.

She said: "I had a discussion about how and if we can assist. There is urgency about it and the commissioners need to let me know what they intend to do as soon as possible."

Mr McCabe was not available for comment afterwards but fellow commissioner Nick Howell said the commission was "still learning" and that public participation was under constant review.

article copyright THE CORNISHMAN