Hundreds of people visited an exhibition and consultation at the Newlyn Mission last week on the controversial proposals for the regeneration of the port and nearby Penlee Quarry.

The two-day exhibition was organised by officials from Penwith Council, Newlyn Harbour Commissioners and representatives of Marine Development Ltd, the company proposing the Port Penlee development at the quarry and Hyder, the company currently carrying out geographic and underwater tests in the bay.

They had set up computer images, architectural drawings and written information on the proposals for the two schemes.

Tony Woodhams, of the Harbour Commissioners, explained that the purpose of the consultation was to inform local people about progress to date and to listen to public opinion.

"Our remit is to safeguard the fishing industry here in Newlyn," he said.

"A lot of people have been expressing concerns that our proposals will make Newlyn more touristic, but our plans are designed to assist the fishing industry and rid the town of its current traffic problems."

The proposals will include a new fish market with up-to-date facilities, new breakwaters and harbour area for the fishing fleet, a yacht marina in the current harbour area, a Seafood Park at Stable Hobba to provide parking for the large articulated lorries that currently come into the town and the release and conversion of industrial buildings in the town centre to affordable and rentable housing.

"We are trying to safeguard the future of Newlyn as a major fishing port," said Mr Woodhams.

"And we want to make Newlyn a better place for people living here, by moving the industry and traffic to the edges and to encourage more fish and seafood processing within the town.

"Currently 95 per cent of what is landed is exported out of Newlyn. We want to change this and create more jobs locally."

He said that a full traffic assessment was currently being carried out by Penwith and the county council, along with a flood risk assessment. These should be ready by October.

David Jarman, landscape planner for the private Penlee Quarry proposals, said that the quarry presented the district with a 'rare opportunity' to develop a brown-field site.

"This is an exciting project and people should not be concerned about it," he said.

"There will be a balanced mix of housing which include affordable and rentable properties for local people, plus shops, a multi-storey car park and leisure and yacht facilities."

He added: "We held the exhibition because we want the public to tell us what they want. We had an excellent turn out and people were very supportive."

Edward Iliffe, director of MDL, said that most people who expressed a concern about the plans, were worried about traffic.

"Generally people were very positive, but were concerned about the traffic issue," he said.

"We are currently looking at ways of carrying out the construction by the sea route which would reduce the amount of traffic coming through Newlyn. We are in constant consultation with Penwith Council, English Nature and the RSPB and will be taking on board the views of local people."

Members of Friends of The Bay also attended last week's exhibition.

One of the members said that local people were concerned about certain aspects of each of the two schemes.

"We are not against change, but we are particularly worried about the amount of traffic that will be generated by the Port Penlee Scheme and by the infilling of a large section of the sea at Newlyn," she said.

"We are also worried that the schemes are being pushed through at a rapid rate and that proper public consultation is not taking place."

Nigel Horwell, Penwith Council Regeneration Officer said: "We will be holding regular public consultations to keep the public informed on the progress of each of the schemes. However, we are faced with a time limit on the projects as the Objective 1 funding has to be spent by 2008."

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