August 3, 2010 - 13:09 
- 
Talks Planned For Scillies Helicopter Link
Tags: Helipcopter, IOS, Isles of Scilly, Lands End, Penzance, Sainsburys
Area:
Penzance Talks are expected to be held in August about whether flights from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly could run from Land's End airport instead of Penzance.
British International Helicopters (BIH) has agreed to sell Penzance Heliport to Sainsbury's subject to the firm gaining planning consent to build a new store.
BIH says airport owner, Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, has told them that it plans to discuss options next week.
The airport's owners said it was considering various implications.
Noise concern
If the firm decides to agree to flights from Land's End and Sainsbury's gets planning permission, some locals fear that the noise from up to 12 helicopter flights a day at the height of the season could harm tourism.
Land's End Aerodrome Action Group (LEAAG) claims noise from the helicopters would pollute West Penwith and is calling for an environmental impact assessment to be made.
It says that air traffic at Land's End Aerodrome would double and it is also concerned about a rise in road traffic if the flights are based from the airfield.
Some people are concerned about noise pollution from the helicopters and increased road traffic
Tony Jones, managing director of BIH, said: "I think there will be more concerns over tourism if we can't operate a service from Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly.
"An operation from Land's End would have a very small effect on locals in terms of noise - we can organise landings and take off approaches to avoid known tourist spots and housing.
"I have spoken to the chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company who said he has to put the proposals to the board which I think is taking place next week so we will have a better, clearer picture as to whether Land's End is on the options list next week."
Jeff Marston, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, said: "We continue to have regular discussions with British International about the options open to them, including a move to Land's End Airport, following the announcement of the sale of Penzance Heliport.
"The board of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company is considering the various commercial implications of how it wishes to move forward, as a result of this on-going dialogue with British International."
Source: BBC
Helicopter Image: Geoffbannister.com
Comments
Anonymous August 3, 2010 - 17:21
I was under the impression that the helicopter moved from Lands End airport to Penzance because there were many more days of fog at Lands End when they could not fly.
PJ August 3, 2010 - 21:34
There are helicopter pads on sky scrapers, ships, lighthouses, oilrigs,front lawns of private houses; why not on top of a super store?, which would keep the air port in an acccesable location and give the super store a unique difference beween its rivals to east and west!
Moving this to Lands End is a mistake all-round. It is putting it even farther away from people who want to the use the service, making it a less attractive option than the ferry. Lands End is a stunnungly beautiful area that will be wrecked by the increased traffic, noise pollution and the visual impact on this area of great NATURAL beauty.
Also, it will have a negative effect on Penzance, economically....Penzance needs to retain this service.
As always, it seems money and big corporations such as Sainsburys win over the local environment and local economic needs. Whoever permitted this despite the planning/economic/environmental issues should be sacked.
Lands End doesn't need it and Penzance cannot afford to lose it-it is a no-brainer.