LETTER TO CORNISHMAN 4TH JUNE

This week Cornwall County Council announced the loss of over 60 jobs in Waste Management Services; the first of many casualties to come.

According to the Television News Cornwall County Council has got to save over £100 million during the next five years, so here's a free gift to help them on their way.

The Route Partnership plan for the Isles of Scilly service is going to cost about £68 million [has anyone ever seen one of these projects come in on budget?] plus financing. I don't know what interest rates Cornwall County Council pay but an average of 5% seems a reasonable guess. At that, the interest will add about £3.4 million a year for the life of the project [20 years?] but over the first five years alone about £17 million. That seems a lot of money to provide inadequate support for half a percent of Cornwall's population.

The reason, apparently, for spending this huge sum, which on its own will increase the County debt by over 10%, is to obtain an EU grant of £20 million. So the cost over the full five years will be around £65million, after they've got the £20million back.

Now here's a thing. If CCC had adopted the Trythall Shipping proposal, over the same five years it would have cost £16million-£18million plus , say £850k per year in interest. That is £4.5 million over five years. So the Trythall five year cost would seem to be around £22 million.

For that we'd get a faster, smoother service, giving a Penzance to Scillys crossing time that would be only fifteen minutes longer than the time it will take to fly from Lands End Aerodrome by Skybus or BIH when the summer road journey's added in. And, at the end of the period, we'd own a ship that would have a marketable value rather than a seasick making white elephant that is apparently only suitable for the Scillys service so will have no residual value other than as scrap.

That, as far I can see, will save us; the Cornwall County Council taxpayers, a minimum of £44million, protect Penzance harbour, and secure a fast crossing to the Scillys on 99% of the sailing days against about 86% flying days from Lands End aerodrome; a guaranteed more reliable service, and no major harbour works in Penzance.

So there you are. Nearly half the required £100 million savings we have to find and a better technical solution. If CCC don't want to save it all they could use some {£10 million?] to purchase the heliport and lease it back to BIH. That way BIH will survive a little longer and at the end of the day the County may have purchased an appreciating asset to sell on if BIH close.

Good answers don't have to be complicated. They just have to make sense.

Isn't it about time Cornwall County Council's representatives and senior management started taking up their responsibilities to its tax payers, electorate and employees and not worry about saving face by having to change their minds. Savings of this order could save hundreds of jobs, help protect vital services and protect the Scillys link if and when BIH closes.

Please note that I have no interest in Trythall shipping other than appreciating the logic of their proposals which I have seen confirmed by the apparently very accurate quotations and costings that Mr Cartwright has been able to assemble. I am, however, happy to declare an interest in how CCC spend or waste my Council tax and protect our environment and vital services.

Tony White
Chairman . Lands End Aerodrome Action Group.