Cornwall Council has welcomed the news that the Government has agreed to provide more than £7 million to support the proposed works at Penzance and St Mary’s harbours.
The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, announced today that the Department for Transport was making £6.4 million available for the harbour works at St Mary’s, together with dredging and traffic management improvements for the harbour at Penzance.
The Department for Transport is also giving Cornwall Council a further £976k to cover the costs of preparatory works for the scheme. These costs would normally be met by the local authority.
Nigel Blackler, head of strategy, economy, enterprise and environment at Cornwall Council, said “The harbour improvements proposed at St Mary’s and Penzance will help safeguard the future of the sea link by creating deeper water berths which will increase the range of vessels which could potentially provide the service in the future.”
Bert Biscoe, Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for transport and waste, added: “We are always glad to welcome the Secretary of State to Cornwall. Transport is a very significant issue for us and having senior ministers who know it first hand is invaluable.”
Today’s announcement, made during a two day visit by the Secretary of State to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, means that the works to carry out dredging at Penzance and pier widening and improving freight handling facilities at St Mary’s can go ahead as soon as the authorities receive formal confirmation of the Convergence funding. This decision is expected in the near future.
