EVERYONE in Newlyn must play a part in shaping the future of the port, a public meeting was told this week.
More than 50 people were at The Centre for a debate on The Future of Newlyn, hosted by The Cornishman.
The mood was surprisingly upbeat as members of the Newlyn Pier and Harbour Commission presented their vision for the port.
The 10 commissioners who took to the stage tackled controversial subjects ranging from the failed fish market plans to the transparency of the commission's finances.
Commissioner Kevin Bennetts set the positive tone, urging the audience to look on the bright side.
"We spend too long focusing on what's wrong with Newlyn," he said. "Let's look at what's right. We have a superb harbour; we are the most strategically-located port in Europe; we are not dependent on one species of fish; we have men of incredible calibre in this port. Given the right climate, things will come right again."
As they took questions from the floor, time and again commissioners stressed the need for the community to get involved and have their say.
"What kind of place and what kind of activities do we foresee in Newlyn in 10 years' time?" asked chairman Gilbert McCabe. "What are the commercial activities that are going to support Newlyn harbour?
"It has to do with boats, with landings, with fish."
He emphasised that the commission's aim was to turn a profit, plough money back in and create "the type of physical built environment that each of us can be proud of".
Hot topics of the evening also included the development of a boat maintenance yard at Sandy Cove, but the question on many people's lips was where the money was going to come from.
The audience heard that the harbour's assets were worth some £7 million but maintaining the port cost money. With the books £600,000 into the red – but slowly recovering – finding the cash to invest was a challenge. The good news was that Cornwall Council had pledged a grant of £500,000, given that the last substantial investment was in the pontoons five years ago when £2 million was spent on the mooring system.
However, the meeting also raised many unanswered questions, such as whether a huge amount of regeneration would kill the charm and character of the port. The commission says it hopes its advisory body, which is currently being set up, will go some way towards finding the answers.
By June, the plans will be in place for the next five to ten years and everyone concerned has vowed that the process will be as transparent as possible. Ultimately, the trust port's body was run by the people for the people, said Mr McCabe, who urged more residents to attend the monthly meetings of the commission.
"You have to keep prodding us – it is your commission," he told them.
article copyright THE CORNISHMAN