I’m deeply puzzled to understand how “Old HighSchoolGirl” read last week’s article on the formation of the Friends of Prince of Wales Pier and somehow managed to turn it on its head and conclude that our Friends scheme is a money making operation for those involved in its formation.
Unfortunately, as she didn’t feel comfortable revealing her name, I don’t know her either, but I can tell her that I am based in High Street, retired, have no financial aspirations whatsoever with regard to the Pier and, just like her, want to see it looked after.
Neither can I understand what she means by saying this is an attempt by an unelected body to develop it. What is the council, which made the decision to award the contract for its management, if not elected? And does she really think developments can occur without planning approval by the elected council?
Also she describes the pier as “free”. Of course it isn't, its upkeep is paid for by all of us through the rates we pay. All that is happening here is that the council is trying to shed the costs of maintaining it and generate some income out of quality activities and attractions at the location, thereby reducing future increases in our rates; a win-win proposal.
Fortunately she seems to be alone in her views as, since the Packet article the previous week, ideas have been flowing in for exciting and beneficial community uses and the facebook page already has 53 supporters.
If you haven’t looked at the page “Old HighSchoolGirl”, please do. She says there is life on the pier but where? For most of last week it was a wet, windswept, deserted piece of black, featureless tarmac.
The pier has such potential for tourists and locals alike. It is a wonderful viewing point for the harbour, a great pace for boats to embark and disembark and a blank canvas platform for so many varied activities.
I can completely understand why she is worried about commercialisation and excessive profiteering. Let me assure her that there is no way I’d support the madness of an entry fee to the pier. It was exactly because of this concern that a group of local people stepped in to form a Community Interest Company (a separate body to the Friends scheme) to bid for the franchise to run events from the facility when Cornwall Council put that out to tender, rather than let it go to an out of county commercially orientated firm. This is our town, we don’t want it spoiled.
Christopher Smith Via email
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