George calls for Government aid for storm damaged Penzance and Scilly

The MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, Andrew George, will today, call on the Deputy Prime Minister (who is standing in for the Prime Minister at Question Time) for Government assistance to resolve the long term coastal protection challenges faced by Penzance and the Isles of Scilly following severe storm damage last month.

Mr George, who invited the Deputy Prime Minister to visit his constituency to see for himself the impact of the storms a day prior to the Valentine’s Day storm which caused further damage around the coast of his constituency, will ask the Deputy Prime Minister for his oversight and support for the local authorities, transport operators and others who now need to plan and find the resources necessary to provide a long term solution.

Mr George has long supported calls for an off shore breakwater for Penzance and will ask the Government for assistance in doing the final scoping work and costings to bring options forward.

He has also fought for investments for Penzance and St Mary’s Harbours to protect the still vulnerable lifeline ferry link.

Mr George said: “The Government’s response to the storm damage and its impact on the livelihoods of fishermen and for the restoration of the rail service following the severing of the link at Dawlish has been helpful and very much appreciated. But the severe damage at Penzance, the Isles of Scilly and the vulnerable lifeline transport link has gone under the radar and is not something which local authorities can resolve entirely on their own.

“That’s why I’m calling on the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that a delegation from my constituency will be able to meet the appropriate Ministers and officials to secure the support necessary to find a resilient long term solution.

“Although, of course, I have visited many other communities which have been affected by the storm damage (at Porthleven, Lamorna, Newlyn, Mullion, Coverack, Cadgwith and elsewhere) the scale of the problem faced in Penzance and the vulnerability of the transport link is something which requires a scale of response which can only be achieved with Government support.”

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