“This is just the most recent in a series of initiatives by Cornwall Council to circumvent normal planning procedures and controls and to remove elected local representatives and their constituents from the decision making process. First the consultation process ignored the clearly stated wishes of local people, then the Council decided that it didn¿t need to apply for planning permission for most of the works, and now it has decided that the planning consents that are required will not be scrutinised by local members. On top of this the Council says that the final decision about whether to build on Battery Rocks beach or go for alternatives will be taken by the Cabinet of the Council, where Penzance, one of the largest towns in the County, and its surrounding area has no representation!”

“A couple of quotes from the Battery Rocks survey written by Stella Turk founder of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
"At Battery Rocks some counts have been made: one holdfast measuring 3" x 3"
contained over 100 specimens representing 14 different species: in some parts of north-east England only four species are found per holdfast!

.ACTIVITY: fishing; food collecting, (winkles); field studies; recreation, picnics, sun-bathing
NUMBERS SPECIES: Plants: high; animals; high".
Battery Rocks lies in the south-east facing corner of Mount's Bay which is well known to marine biologists for its prolific and interesting fauna and flora.


"”

“This whole thing absolutely stinks! The protestors are being labelled by those supporting the Route Partnership as backward-looking, small-minded, against progress etc etc etc. No one amongst these protestors has said they don't want the ferry link! All people are concerned about is the proposed plans, and to counter these, a perfectly workable, sensible and economic alternative is being supported. And yet apparently the Route Partnership aided and abetted by the Council refuse to countenance any idea but their own. Just whose back is being scratched here? Makes me sick.”

“I, and the people of PZ, have been grossly mislead by the local government officers employed by Cornwall Council.
We were assured that the proposals for the modernisation of the Link would be subjected to the democratic process of Planning application.

Then' by 'virtue' of a Harbour Revision Order applied for years ago without proper public awareness or consultation, it was 'interpreted' that planning permission is needed for tiny portions of the Works only. We may just comment on the proposed alterations to the Historic Sea Wall and 'listed building consent' required to deface the South Pier, with the 1853 Light House switched off and left stranded half way up the new structure!
We are robbed of our entitlement to submit planning objections to the proposals as a whole. The reclaiming of our beach, the placing of industrial facilities in this historic location where none existed before, even the design of the facilities are considered ' outside of the Planners's remit '- and the watchful eye of such bodies as the CABE design Panel, whose function is to defend our interests.

This week, the public is further deprived of having even these fragmented aspects of the proposals considered at all by their elected representatives! When these Works shall have such a huge impact upon our town and Conservation Area, both during and after Construction, one can only be astounded that, though selective and biased 'interpretations' by Council , the applications may be both declared 'not to be a Major Development ' - thus many relevant planning policies need not apply- Yet sent to be determined by the Strategic Committte!

What a cunning slight of hand! One of many,in recent weeks, twisting the letter of the Law to accomodate steamrolling Penzance into a solution we never wanted and which offers no opportunities for the future regeneration of our town.

First, the return of a barely revised 'Option A' to Planning was neatly bundled up with vague promises of 'further explorations' of the more popular Option C, and Out of Town Freight Depot, into one single motion presented to Committee for vote. This effectively tying the hands of our elected representatives into voting 'yes' to both, if the Link was to be modernised at all!
Second, when a large majority of those elected Committee Members who actually bothered to attend this defining meeting made it clear it was unfair to push Option A back to Planning without giving Option C equal opportunity...Hey! They were steamrolled: This is exactly what is happening!

Third, while it is agreed by all that the maintenance of the Sea Link , vital to the Islands, IN PRINCIPLE shall bring substantial benefits to both Communities, to apply this principle in fact to the SPECIFICS of these proposals is misleading and erroneous rethoric. Nevertheless, this has been the position of the applicants from the start; their 'sutainabilty report' does not even mention the existance of another option. The re-submission of these application without Option C undergoing a simultaneous process is premature and unacceptable.

I share the " bitter disappointment" expressed by Mr. Roger Harding, Chairperson of our Local Community Network. This arbitrary decision by Mr. Mason was taken in contempt of the views expressed by the Chair and Vice Chair of our Planning Committee, both of whom had determined that these applications should be scrutinised locally. This decision to take matters out of the hands of local elected members who understand the concerns of the Community is not acceptable. This was rendered possible by a small, yet significant change hastily sneaked into the Council's Constitution, whereby un-elected Officials can now overrule elected Committe members on local issues. This is a step too far!!! - Hardly transparent or accountable!When the Law doe not suit the Council, then the Officers simply rewrite the Constitution!!! When the new Council was set up, against th”

“What an outrageous decision. That there should be a link to the Scillies from Penzance is the strategic component, and that is not in question. HOW Penzance implements that, and being allowed to choose to defend it's heritage whilst meeting all the objectives of a continued effective service, should clearly be up to local people and their elected representatives. Does our council have the faintest idea what the word "Democracy" means?”

“BORING

Either lash it on them rocks or move it to Falmouth. Either way, just get on with it. This is no longer a news story, it's just repetitive drivel.

BORING”

“im totally 100% for the harbour regeneration! its what we needs it will bring more tourist therefore improve local businesses, and it will rid us of the terrible eye sore that is battery rocks, which mainly only gets used for teenagers to drink on what a waste it would be if planning permission wasnt given. it will be a good change for the area its self and the residents inparticular those who have no job!”

“The issues to do with a listed building and the sea wall are by no means strategic. They are to do with local arrangements for the Isles of Scilly Link, not with whether there should be such a project. The choice of how the local facilities in Penzance Harbour should be improved is a decision that should be taken locally.

The decision was a discretionary one and Phil Mason chose to ignore the wishes of almost all local councillors and go against the views of the chair and vice-chair of the West Area Planning Committee.

It is true that local members can speak at Strategic Committee meetings but if it hadn't been for a last minute change in the way the constitution of the council was amended on the October 20th local members would also have been able to play a part in the decision about which committee considered the application.

Incidentally, Alec Robertson, the leader of the Council had previously assured local members that the applications would be considered by the West Area committee.”

“Tim V,

I'm a Scillonian man and I'm actually in favour of building on Battery Rocks, or any bloody where as long as it gets done before I die!
But, this decision is wrong, wrong, wrong and is a slap in the face for democracy, as you say. Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly have proved time and again that they cannot reach a decision in an adult manner on this subject, and now I think the decision should be taken out of their hands.
The process that you outlined, whereby secrecy and unsuitable consultants were the order of the day, is bordering on criminal. Some of the councillors associated with this farce should not only be looking at being stripped of their standing in public office, but they should also be looking at a custodial sentence for their mis-management of public funds to drag this debacle to it's current position.
I am in no way a part of the Friends of Penzance Harbour group, but I am a staunch believer in the proper process of local authority's acting in the interests of local people, and at no time has this happened either here on Scilly or there on the mainland.
I hate having the wool pulled over my eyes, but what I hate more is when someone in a suit tells me that I can still see out of it fine. There was a time, not 50 years ago, when people like these would be physically removed from office and dumped out on the pavement of county hall.”

“ONLY AN IDIOT WOULD DO AWAY ALL THE HISTORY RELATED TO THE BATTERY ROCKS”