Andrew George MP:Good Progress on Penzance and Isles of Scilly Ferry Link Route

Key stakeholders got behind plans to take advantage of the multi-million pound Department for Transport funding offer for the Penzance and Isles of Scilly Ferry Link project following a meeting in St John’s Hall, Penzance last Friday evening (15th July 2011). Local MP, Andrew George, who has been convening the meetings reported that there has been ‘encouraging progress’.

The meeting included elected representatives of Cornwall Council, Penzance Chamber of Commerce, the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, the new Penzance Seafront Forum and Penzance Town Council. They heard progress reports on meetings at the Department for Transport, with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and The Duchy of Cornwall, with officers of the European Convergence Programme and others. The meeting also agreed a draft outline development brief which will be put before Penzance Town Council this evening and which will form the basis of an initial bid to the Department for Transport.

The development brief includes a timeline with an ultimate application date for a new scheme to the Department for Transport and the Convergence Programme by the end of December this year.

Mr George, who called the meeting, said that he was pleased with progress and also thanked the former Chief Executive of Penwith District Council, Jim McKenna, who had been working for him in a voluntary capacity to help bring forward the outline development brief.

The meeting also heard progress from the Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company on the work it is currently undertaking in looking at ship options.

Similar encouraging progress with plans for major harbour improvements is being made on the Isles of Scilly.

25 people attended the meeting and a schedule of work was agreed prior to the next meeting of this Consultative Group which will meet again before the end of next month.