The Sunday Times has run a short item on the IOSSG’s efforts
to thwart Robert Dorrian-Smith’s plans to reinstate the helicopter service
between the Islands and Penzance.
The article states that the helicopter proposals were “welcomed by islanders who complain about the
“second-rate” ferry service that does not operate during the winter and
aeroplane flights that are often cancelled because of bad weather, leaving the
islands cut off for days."
The article reminds readers that “Helicopter flights operated to the islands for almost 50 years until
2012, when British International Helicopters withdrew its service, blaming
uncertainty created by a dispute over the future of its heliport site in
Penzance.”
Samantha Mallon, initiator of the petition for reinstatement
of the helicopter service is quoted as saying “The steamship company are holding the islands to ransom,” and Lord Berkeley, a regular visitor to the islands, is quoted from his recent
Lords debate where he branded the Company a “lazy
monopoly provider”.
IOSSG is quoted as saying that there are too few passengers to
“sustain two completely separate air operations”. It also is reported as saying
that (building a new heliport) “lumbers
an already fragile transport system with unnecessary costs and risks”.
Read full article here (you may need to register temporarily for access)
Helicopter petition
here
Comment. The IOSSG is currently seeking Judicial Review of Cornwall Council's handling of the Penzance Heliport planning application. This action has effectively stalled the project. The date for the legal hearing is not known.
No comments:
Post a Comment