Cornwall Council response to MP Norman Baker letter

Last updated: 03/05/2011 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

Cornwall Council talks about its “frustration” and “disappointment” in a written response to Transport Minister Norman Baker following the minister’s refusal to fund the scheme to preserve the maritime link between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.

In an open letter Graeme Hicks, the council’s cabinet member for Transportation and Highways, writes of the “operational deficiencies” at the harbours in Penzance and St.Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, and highlights the DfT’s lost opportunity of securing tens of millions of pounds of non Government investment in transport infrastructure to safeguard the lifeline link for the next 25 years.

Cornwall Council stepped in to work with the Council of the Isles of Scilly in 2003 on developing a sustainable solution to the maritime link. After eight years of work and nearly £6m of lost investment Cornwall Council has now made it clear that it cannot support any further investment towards developing an alternative solution in Penzance where stakeholders have such differing aspirations.

Cllr Hicks said of the letter: “Like the minister I am also responsible for the allocation of public money and at this time of fiscal stringency it would be unwise to spend Cornwall Council taxpayers’ money on developing further schemes with no promise of a return on that investment.”

It is also felt that it would not be prudent for Cornwall Council to continue investing in new proposals in light of the recent lack of clarity from the DfT regarding their requirements.

Cllr Hicks writes: “Having worked under the guidance of the Department over the last eight years to develop this project at a cost of nearly £6m, it is particularly frustrating to now learn that the project falls well short of what the Department now requires.”

Responsibility for preserving the maritime link has always ultimately fallen with the Department for Transport. Following the minister’s decision the proposed Cornwall Council borrowing of £15m and the European Convergence investment of £12.75m are now no longer available. Cllr Hicks’ letter makes it clear that any future scheme would have to be funded by the DfT and the private sector.

Given that the DfT are setting the parameters and making any funding decision the most effective way of going forward will be for the DfT to lead any project and Cornwall Council will provide them with any of the necessary information gathered over the last eight years.

Story posted 03 May 2011