Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton secured time for representatives from Falmouth Dock operators A&P, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and Cornwall Council to join with her making the case for the Port of Falmouth Masterplan directly to Environment Minister, Richard Benyon MP.
The meeting took place last week at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Port of Falmouth Masterplan was presented to the Minister, and the case for dredging was made.
Mrs Newton then presented to Parliament a petition signed by 1000 residents of Falmouth and the surrounding area, calling for the dredging to go ahead to enable the implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan.
Commenting Mrs Newton said:
‘The implementation of the Port of Falmouth Masterplan is absolutely vital to securing the future of the port and economic prosperity of Falmouth. Comprehensive and independent work undertaken by environmental experts demonstrates that the dredging required to implement the Masterplan can be done in an environmentally sensitive way.
I am grateful to Tom Flanagan of Cornwall Council, Falmouth Harbour Commissioner Dave Ellis and Mikes Reynolds and Kevin Johnson of A&P for joining me in making representations to the Minister. I will continue to do all I can to support the vitally important maritime industries in the Port of Falmouth.’