Islanders' disown out-of-touch MP
A FURIOUS island community has effectively disowned their MP saying he can no longer be trusted to represent their views in a row over a crucial ferry development.
In an unprecedented move, the Council for the Isles of Scilly yesterday voted to bypass its MP, Andrew George, in ministerial level discussions over plans to enhance the sea link to the mainland.
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Andrew George
Such is its anger, the council is to write to shipping minister Paul Clark, Mr George's party leader, Nick Clegg, and Transport Secretary Lord Adonis, to vent its feelings.
Trouble has been brewing for weeks after the Isles of Scilly council overwhelmingly backed plans to build new facilities on St Mary's for the ferry link to the mainland.
But the Penzance end of the link remains unresolved and Scillies councillors believe Mr George's views are out of step with their own.
Julia Day, who chairs the council, said feelings were running high in the islands: "There is a great deal of anger and people feel they have been disenfranchised by their MP.
"We no longer feel that Andrew George is able to represent the views of this community and therefore we need to represent ourselves.
"We need to make sure that ministers understand this. We do not feel we can have confidence he will express the views of the islanders."
The motion voted for by all but one councillor stated: "The Council of the Isles of Scilly instructs the chairman to write to the to the shipping minister, Paul Clark, the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis and the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg MP, to inform them that Andrew George MP is not considered to be representing the interests of the islands in respect of the Route Partnership Project."
Last night, Mr George said he remained determined to see the project succeed and it would be better to concentrate on this than "indulge in personal recriminations".
During recent meeting on the Scillies and in Penzance, he said he had appealed for a calm, rational discussion on both sides. "I regret that the council has responded in this manner. Taken with the recent outburst from the portfolio holder in Truro, my fear for the future of this vital project only increases.
"I leave it to others to judge for themselves whether these statements reflect on me and my efforts or diminish the councils responsible for the project."
The crux of the argument is over two options being discussed for the Penzance end of the link – a single passenger and freight handling facility in the seafront Battery Rocks area and a split site, with freight handled at an out-of-town depot.
An independent report said the latter option could push up prices for Scillonians by a quarter and is fiercely opposed by islanders.
Mr George has publicly backed this alternative, but also said he would support the single site option if that was the decision Cornwall Council planners ultimately made.
Campaigners Friends of Penzance Harbour backs the out-of-town option, fearing a new terminal would destroy the historic Battery Rocks area. The scheme is being put together by Cornwall Council-led Route Partnership consortium.
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by Peter B Wellington, Wellington House Hotel, Falmouth
Monday, October 26 2009, 3:22PM
“PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE do nothing to stop this disthering MP from involving himself in the IOS link. Because he has never had a real job, his lack of experience combined with not being very bright means every time he gets involved he puts the IOS/Penzance link more at risk.
The Port of Falmouth would welcome with open arms the new link to The Scillies, and every hotel/guest house owner I know in Falmouth (which is quite a lot) would publically support the link moving. It would be great for business.
So Mr Andrew George, on behalf of the people of Falmouth, I encourage you to get involved as much as you can. Keep calling meetings, keep saying you represent Penzance peop[le.”
by ruth, PZ
Monday, October 26 2009, 2:21PM
“I am shocked by the Islanders reaction, but I totally understand their anger, Andrew George wants to have his cake and eat it. Since he was first elected he¿s taken the path of least resistance on every issue, to offend as few people as possible, so he keeps his lucrative job and his expenses (we¿re all familiar with Mr. George¿s expense claims...)
As a lib dem supporter, I hope Mr George will stand down in a dignified way ahead of the next election and give someone else the chance to stand for the lib dems, otherwise I really fear the tories will beat him.”
by Clive Woodlock, Marazion
Monday, October 26 2009, 12:55PM
“Your headline absolutely correct. This man is totally out of touch, and does not represent anyone but himself.
His dithering on such an important issue makes all of us in Cornwall look half witted.
We are not, and he does not represent the view of most people in Penzance and Marazion.
Well done Council for the Isles of Scilly, and I wish we could do the same. We do not want him as our MP.”
by Jane Goodall, Long Rock, Nr Penzance
Monday, October 26 2009, 11:03AM
“I have voted Liberal/Lib Dem all my life, and am totally let down by Mr George. He has scuppered a vital link for Penzance/Scilly by his delaying tactics and his indecision.
Sorry, I will not vote for him next year because he has done damage to West Cornwall. I am not surprised Scilly have disowned him, so have I.
Just like Irene in St Buryan, I will hold my nose and vote Tory, not because I feel they are the answer, but to get rid of this dithering MP.”
by John Maggs (FoPzH), Penzance
Thursday, October 22 2009, 11:39AM
“By way of clarification, the Route Partnership Harbour Projects Team consists of Cornwall Council, Birse Coastal, Halcrow Group Ltd and Trewin Design Partnerships. The alternative options appraisal was prepared by Halcrow on a brief from Cornwall Council.”
by Irene Medlin, St. Buryan
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 4:48PM
“I feel that a great many constituents feel let down by Mr. George. I could never vote for him again (desite being a lifelong Liberal voter) after I learned about his expense claims and the high-handed way he tried to defend himself.
At the next election I think a great many people will "disown" him and I will probably not vote at all or hold my nose and vote Tory.”
by Chris G, Penzance
Wednesday, October 21 2009, 1:07PM
“I think the islanders from IOS are being very selfish. We, the people of Penzance have a right to public consultation and a right to be heard, after all it does affect us. It seems that the least damage would be caused by the first option of extending the pier/harbour at Penzance. This apparently is protected in some way, but this must be lifted as I think, and I am sure others do too, that Battery Rocks and the beach are more worthy of keeping as they are. After all who will really notice an extended pier? Thank you Andrew George for listening to the people of Penzance - as well as those of the IOS.”
by Steadkitten, Runcorn
Monday, October 19 2009, 11:09AM
“No one in Penzance uses that beach anyway, so I would hardly call it a beautiful part of the Cornish coastline. Why don't people just use Wherry Town if they love that part of the Cornish Coatline so much.”
by Steff Barnes (Picture Penzance), Penzance
Monday, October 19 2009, 9:25AM
“I think people need to get a grip here. Andrew George represents both Penzance and IoS as our elected MP. Despite what people think of Mp¿s because of the recent expenses scandal has no bearing on this situation at all and only fools would think otherwise.
This really isn¿t about Andrew George, this is about the fact that the people in Penzance have a right to decide on our own domestic matters. As an MP, the people in Penzance has asked him for assistance because we were powerless to stop a building project that was about to destroy, what is after all, a protected area. Let¿s face it preservation was placed on this area many years ago to stop crazy ideas like this destroying our heritage. To be fair he¿s dammed if helps and dammed if he doesn¿t.
The reason why this awful situation is so explosive is because of the mismanagement of the route partnership. In fact it begs the question of whether or not this was intended to happen. Why is route partnership made up of the IoS, Cornwall council and private sponsors..... why wasn¿t a representative of Penzance placed on the board in the first instance?
Serious damage is being done to the relationship of the Scillonian¿s and the people of Penzance and the route of the problem lies fairly and squarely with those who push this unworkable agenda upon the people of Penzance without any consultation.
Responsibility for the breakdown in relationships lies solely with rote partnership.
The people in the IoS are good people, we have no wish to escalate this any further than what it really is.... a planning dispute.
I urge those in a responsible position to work together for a solution.... because once this is over there¿s a lot of bridges to build!”
by John Hellis BA, Taunton, Somerset
Sunday, October 18 2009, 10:33PM
“I do not live in Penzance; neither did I vote for its MP. I do however love Cornwall and especially Penzance were I stay on many occasions each year.
I believe that I can see this squabble for what it is, a set of blind councillors who have mistakenly nailed their colours to the wrong mast and are to gutless to admit their mistake. Don¿t castigate your MP, from all that I have read and heard he has done a very good job in a very hard situation.
Perhaps gentle persuasion of your county council is a better way, remind them that they are elected officials, they can be replaced. Remind them that there is enough support in Penzance to submit a vote of No Confidence and possibly get them fired immediately (why wait for the next election).
Stop squabbling over whether your MP is on one side or the other. Those good folk on the IoS want what is best for them; let the equally good folk of Penzance have what is best for them.
It would be a disaster for an ugly modern Nissan hut to be built in such a historic site, Penzance needs to enhance its historic and beautiful sites to entice tourism. It does not need to destroy its sea front.”