The proposed plans for the travel link between Scilly and the mainland have been causing contention on both sides of the water. At Radio Scilly we've been bringing you all the opinions and information and you can hear interviews with some of the key players in the debate right here.

Mike Walters from the Penzance Chamber of Commerce gives us his opinion on what the latest developments in the Penzance/Scilly link means for Penzance Click Here to Listen, first broadcast on 27th January 2010

The latest updates on the Penzance/Scilly Link including MP Andrew George's comments in the commons about the Isles of Scilly Council. Click here to listen, first broadcast 9th January 2009

With the dramatic news that Cornwall Council has rejected listed building consent for the Battery Rocks plan we bring you two news specials on the future of boat services to and from Scilly. You can listen to both by clicking the links below.

News Special One

News Special Two

Cornwall Councillor Graeme Hicks explains that Falmouth Harbour Commissioners are match funding the amount Scilly's Council invested into a scoping exercise for Falmouth Docks as a plan B for Penzance. He also says they won't rig the Option C costings findings so it looks better for a Long Rock container facility Click here to listen.

Councillor John Moreland, Chair of the Penzance Civic Society, has sent us a statement from the society on the route partnership proposals. Download the full text by right clicking here

Isles of Scilly Councillors have voted to commit cash to research which on whether Falmouth is a viable back-up plan, should the council preferred option to use the Battery Rocks at Penzance, so called option A, collapse.

Chair of the Route Partnership, Philip Hygate talks to Keri Jones of Radio Scilly. Click here to listen

Hear Radio Scilly news report what is effectively a vote of no confidence in Andrew George MP on this issue in our 9am News on October 16th Click to listen

Hear the report from 10am on October 16th Click to listen

12th Oct: fears that islanders freight charges could rise after Penzance objectors make Option A harder to deliver. And the Tory Candidate switches sides. Click to listen.

On Monday October 12th we broadcast a news special featuring interviews from all sides of the debate. You can listen to the whole news special by clicking here

As the News Special is over an hour long it is a very large file, we recommend you right click on the link and select 'Save Target As' (this may be worded slightly differently depending on your browser)

From Radio Scilly News 6th October:

Reaction to Andrew George's St Mary's meeting Timeline on planning for option C Trinity House building would be tight

Click here to listen

From Radio Scilly news 7th October:

Andrew George pessimistic about Route Partnership success after IOS meetings. Island Businessman, James Francis, disputes opposition in business sector in PZ

Click here to listen

From Radio Scilly News 9th October:

Tory, Derek Thomas, Candidate backs Option A Battery Rocks Build and states Scilly is worth £7M a year to Penzance

Click here to listen

YOUR MAIL: By the way, if it unsigned, it doesn't count and doesn't get read on air!

I find it amazing that only now, after months of threatening the residents, authorities and businesses of Penzance, to move our shipping interests to Falmouth, have the I.O.S. Council agreed to spend between £3000 and £5,500 in order to carry out a feasibility study into making such a move. I would have thought that this should have been done months ago, before they started sabre rattling. I also find it arrogant on the part of some of our Councillors, that they should decry the views and comments of Andrew George MP simply because he does not agree with all of the proposals put forward by our local Council. Councilor Ticehurst was correct when he said that the MP had to take into consideration, the views of all of his constituents, not just those on the Scillies.

I was involved with 'Fair Island Trading' a shipping company that operated a freight service to the Islands from Falmouth in 1989/91. I can tell you that Falmouth as a freight handling centre, is second to none. It is far better than anything Penzance can offer now or in the future, however, as a passenger terminal for visitors wishing to come to the Islands, it is not suitable. If anyone doubts me, I challenge them to first, take a family of four with enough luggage to come here for 2 weeks, in a car to Falmouth, find a long term parking space, then take their family and their luggage into the docks and find the relevant jetty. Second, I challenge them to make the same journey with the same number of people and the same amount of luggage, only this time use public transport from Truro main line station. Falmouth can handle large numbers of cruise liner passengers who only want to step ashore for the day, but it is not suitable as a terminus for long stay passengers to the Islands.

The distance from Falmouth to Scilly  is 60  miles, half the distance again as Penzance. In order to do the journey in the same time as the Scillonian takes from PZ a ship would have to be capable of doing 24 knots. The increased cost of fuel to cover that distance in that time would add enormous costs to both passenger travel and freight handling. The added problems of rounding the Lizard Peninsula in adverse weather would also be a burden. I admit there are advantages from operating from Falmouth but the disadvantages far outweigh them. The ideal method of operating freight from Falmouth would be to have two ships, one carrying freight, the other continuing to carry passengers from Penzance, but I believe that defeats the whole idea of having one ship only.

I'm afraid there is only one alternative, if the inhabitants of Penzance don't want their rocks to be built on, a freight terminal at Longrock is the only answer. Whichever way they go, it's bound to hit us in our pockets and anyone who tells you different is either lying or sadly disillusioned.

Best wishes,

Glynne Lucas

St Mary's

ANDREW GEORGE MP RESPONDS TO COUNCIL MOTION – ISLES OF SCILLY 16^th October

RE:  PENZANCE HARBOUR

The statement below is a response to an apparent Council Motion on the Isles of Scilly which some in the media have alerted local MP, Andrew George to.  Mr George has neither received advance notice of the Motion, been given an opportunity to comment or advise on the Motion, nor received a copy of the Motion since the Council meeting.  Mr George’s comments are as follows:

“It is best to stick to plot.  I remain focussed and determined that this vital project succeeds.  It is better to concentrate on the task in hand rather than to indulge in personal recriminations.

“I held six meetings on the Isles of Scilly and one in Penzance.  I appealed for calm; a rational and considered debate.  I asked the people in Penzance and the Council on Scilly to make an effort to see this challenging problem from each others’ perspective.

“I regret that the Council has responded in this manner.  Taken with the recent outbursts from the portfolio holder in Truro my fear for the future of this vital project only increases.

“Of course, I leave it to others to judge for themselves whether these statements reflect more on me and my efforts or diminish the Councils responsible for the project.

“I note that the Island Council holds a very strong view about what should happen to Penzance Harbour.  I have been contacted confidentially by a number of Islanders who fear the consequences of being seen to speak out, or to offer an opinion which does not accord with that of the Council.”

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