A difficult decision to make

The increasingly bitter debate over Penzance Harbour reaches another important milestone tomorrow. Three months after the strategic planning committee voted against the listed building consent for a combined freight and passenger terminal, those same plans are returned to the table. It seems absurd that just because the decision didn't go in its favour, Cornwall Council would bring the plans back again, with no change, until the 'right' decision was made, but that's exactly what seems to be happening.
It's impossible to tell how the committee will vote tomorrow, but the momentum in the build-up to this vote certainly seems to have shifted. While the December 2009 vote came in the wake of a huge campaign against Option A by the Friends of Penzance Harbour, it seems it's the opposite side who are running the most vociferous campaign now.
Mike Waters, from the Chamber of Commerce, has helped set up the 'True Friends of Penzance and the Isles Of Scilly', attracting thousands of signatures to his petition to save the sea link. Meanwhile, a second group of local businessmen have set up the Facebook group, 'A Future for Penzance', which has also gathered more than 3,500 'fans'.
Many have argued this is evidence of a shift in the attitudes of local people to the harbour. And perhaps they're right. But with the Falmouth gun to their head, it's hard to tell whether people actually like Option A or whether they'd just accept anything that kept the sea link in Penzance for fear of ruining the town.
But there is an alternative. MP Andrew George has helped another new group, the Penzance Business Network, draw up Option PZ. The plan was officially unveiled last Wednesday to a packed audience in the Methodist Church on Chapel Street. It was said to be an extremely positive meeting and the plans, for all the criticism that they've been thrown together in a few weeks, were reportedly very well received. They would involve a big compromise from both sides, but it's that sort of compromise that could be necessary to move forward.
Unfortunately, Cornwall Council is still insisting it's Option A or nothing. So will the committee agree to Option A on this basis? Is it too late for any other plans? If councillors are told that to vote against Option A would signal the end of the historic sea link between Penzance and Scilly, would they really be prepared to vote against it on the off-chance that another plan, labelled by some 'Pipedream PZ', might just get off the ground?
It's a really difficult decision to make. I hope those involved can see through the spin to the real truths and make the right decision for the town. We need to repair the divisions that have opened up and unite Penzance again. And keep this sea link where it should be - in our town.

Penzance Harbour poll - a "complete farce"?

Penzance Harbour. It's been the biggest issue facing this town since I joined The Cornishman six months ago. And it shows no signs of being resolved. Every week the paper is bombarded with letters on the subject and every week the story takes another turn. (To see a little of what I'm talking about, log on to www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/penzanceharbour - I promise not to mention this subject too often!)
Now, I feel there's been ample opportunity for people to make their views heard on this subject. And they have - in several public meetings; in a Cornishman vote; and in a strategic planning committee, which saw the plans for a combined freight and passenger terminal rejected. But, in light of threats by Cornwall Council that if Penzance did not get its act together and bring back the latter proposal, known as Option A, the Isles of Scilly sea link could move to Falmouth, we decided to see whether people in Penzance had changed their minds.
The words "can" and "worms" spring to mind. For campaigners have allegedly asked all of their contacts to persuade their friends, family members and in turn their contacts to vote against Option A. There is, of course, nothing to stop anyone voting, but if, as alleged, many of those contacts are outside the county, the result is unlikely to be an accurate reflection of feeling in Penzance. And as such, with the votes standing at 30% in favour of Option A and 70% in favour of looking at alternative options, the poll has been dismissed by one councillor as a "complete farce".
So what next? How do we truly gauge public opinion on this? Is an internet poll representative of public feeling? The Chamber of Commerce took to the streets this weekend with a petition in favour of Option A and gathered more than 700 signatures. But they say, like the council, that there is no alternative to Option A and therefore gave people no alternative. So is this an accurate reflection of public opinion? Or is it what people will accept when left with nothing else?
It's hard to see where this will all end. All I want to see is the best solution for Penzance. If everyone would sit down together and talk about this in a rational and calm manner, then maybe we could find a way forward for the good of this town.