Speak with one voice – to keep Helicopter link

31.03.2010  Local MP, Andrew George, will meet Tony Jones – the Managing Director of British International Helicopters – at the Heliport this morning before flying out to the Isles of Scilly with BIH.

Mr George has been in discussions with BIH over a number of months since it first emerged that the company had made its site available for sale as a future development for out of town retail.

Mr George has made clear to Mr Jones and BIH that he opposes such a move. As the national Chairman of the Grocery Market Action Group and as someone who has campaigned against the proliferation of out of town supermarkets and the impact that they have on the vitality of town centres, he would oppose such a move in any case.

Mr George had already approached Cornwall Council asking them to undertake an impact study to head off the possibility of converting the site for out of town retail.

Mr George said: “I approached the Council in January, yet I have not received a response. I would hope that the Council would approach the campaign to protect the Helicopter link with the same passion that they clearly demonstrated when seeking to force planning permission for Penzance Harbour through its own Planning Committee.

“However, the Council will have to demonstrate that they will overcome a conflict of interest. As owners and operators of Newquay Airport they will be keen to secure the extra business if BIH were to move there. They faced a similar conflict of interest over Penzance Harbour.”

Mr George had also written to Aviation Minister, Paul Clark MP, who has outlined the basis on which the service could be protected if the Council propose that the link should have Public Service Obligation rules imposed upon it.

Mr George said: “Both options will have to be looked at. There are bound to be very serious questions about the wisdom of having any further development in a flood plain and a full retail study and impact assessment would need to be undertaken before commencing with what would inevitably be a very controversial planning application.

“If Cornwall Council are as passionate about retaining the transport links with the Isles of Scilly as they claim they are then I hope that they would accept my suggestion that they put forward a case for the Helicopter link to be designated as one on which a Public Service Obligation could appropriately be imposed. They have to show that the route is ‘vital for the economic and social development’ for the economy and the airport it serves. At present, the Helicopter link is the closest that the mainland and Isles of Scilly route has to a core ‘lifeline’ service.

“I do hope that the Council will support the local community in this.

“Above all, this is an opportunity for the local community to speak with one voice. It would be particularly unhelpful if campaign bodies or external influences used this as another attempt to drive a wedge through the local community.”