Memorandum from Roger Lowrie

 

 

PENZANCE HARBOUR USERS HARBOUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

 

I read with interest about the inquiry being launched into the South West's transport system.

 

Penzance has massive problems with traffic congestion both summer and winter due to the constraints caused by the entrance to the town.

 

The Harbour Users Association have with input from the community devised a plan that will address this issue and remove all heavy transport from the town centre and is based around the town's natural transport hub.

 

The following is an extract from a letter to Andrew Mitchell ex Economic Portfolio holder CCC & others.

 

"I read with interest the article in the current issue of Cornish World Regional Spatial Strategy-Can Cornwall cope with 70000 more houses and the concern that provisions must be made to improve infrastructure in the south west to cope with the growing population.

In another article titled Cornwall still the poorest region our MP Andrew George says after reading the annual review of relative wealth "This is the proof that the answers are not going to arrive from outside Cornwall. We have got to come up with our own solutions." etc.

 

Penzance Harbour Users Association have for some years been promoting a harbour development plan that will address problems experienced in west Cornwall including social deprivation, employment, low wages and skills, economic regeneration, traffic congestion etc.

 

We have got our plan into the governments Market and Coastal Town initiative document Penzance Futures, Penwith District Councils Newlyn/Penzance area action plan and their harbour business plan. Our proposal has also been adopted in principal by Penzance Town Council unopposed as the preferred plan for harbour development and as we understand they will have a major part to play in policy making under the proposed Unitary Status for Cornwall.

 

We have continued giving presentations and gave one to Tim Woods Director of Structures, Nigel Blackler acting Director of Transport at County Council and Andy Davies PDC regeneration team leader

 

They seemed fairly positive; in fact Mr Blackler (now Director of Transport CC) thought our proposal would be the only way of getting around the traffic congestion problems in Penzance Town as the existing constraints restrict room for manoeuvre".

 

 

 

We have also given the presentation to marina owners and developers, property developers, local businessmen, Chair of Cornwall Enterprise, the British Marine Federation, Andy Brigden supremo of Cornwall's ports and harbours at CC, Andrew George MP (he supports anything that will bring improvements to the area as he stated in Cornwall at the Cross Roads), a rep of the RDA, Georgina Maclaren writing the Strategic Investment Fund application to the ERDF Convergence Fund. She tells us although we will not be given a pot of money to spend (we asked for half a million) we may be included in discussion groups. The manager of Wharfside knows of its objectives and approves. Etc.etc.

 

Peter Brown of the SW Regional Assembly said,

"Earlier this year you contacted the Regional Assembly to outline your proposals for the enhancement of Penzance Harbour. I have looked at you proposals with interest and can see they will help improve the economic prospects of the area in line with the Regional Spatial Strategy and the Regional Economic Strategy. It is important the region supports the continued economic regeneration of Cornwall and its towns."

 

Everyone who has seen the presentation in its concept form has supported the idea.

 

This concept can be seen at

www.penzanceharbour.co.uk

 

We have recently invested £1000 having our Harbour Development Plan re-drawn in a 3D animation form more or less to scale. The first drafts of the plan were fantastic! The completed project will be available soon.

 

We would request that you bring our proposal before your committee and assist us in its promotion.

 

 

Roger Lowry