This week Parliament returns following the end of Christmas Recess, and I am looking forward to continuing working to progress the Government’s legislative programme on behalf of the people of Truro and Falmouth.
Prior to that, this past week I have been working hard in
our constituency on a variety of local matters.
I thought I would go into detail on one issue that has had a
particularly high profile over the past week locally, which was the application
to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the non-departmental Government
organisation, which exists to protect and enhance our precious marine
environment, and support UK economic growth by enabling sustainable marine
activities and development, for two licenses to operate a seaweed farm in
Gerrans Bay off the Roseland.
The seaweed farm would have involved suspending lines 65ft
(20m) apart, held in place by surface floats and anchored to the sea bed. This
would have massively limited the use of the sea across a 270 acre (or 153
football pitches) site both for our fishermen, who are
heavily reliant on inshore waters for their livelihoods, but also for
leisure and community use, with the iconic Portscatho Regatta event, for
example, taking place on these waters. It was also
essentially a large industrial feature in what is currently a beautiful and
unspoilt piece of coastline and marine environment that enjoys Area of
Outstanding Natural beauty status under planning rules.
I was contacted by a great number of people about this issue
and spoke about it last week on BBC Radio Cornwall, which you can see a link to
on my Facebook page, if you would like to listen to it.
A few months ago I facilitated a meeting between fishermen
on the Roseland and Biome Algae so that assurances could be made, one of which
was for an Environmental Impact Assessment, which did not materialise.
As the Member of Parliament for Truro & Falmouth I have
a duty to represent our friends, family and neighbours who are concerned about
the future of fishing if this seaweed farm had gone ahead.
Last week, I attended the Gerrans Parish Council meeting and
wrote to the MMO to ask for an extension to the public consultation on this
application. Subsequently it was
announced that the consultation on the seaweed farm was extended due to
concerns over the timings of the public notices for the application, giving us
more time to make sure that local people are heard.
Then on Friday, I was delighted to hear from the MMO that
both applications had been withdrawn. This was ultimately a successful campaign
by local people, who came together as a community across a variety of
platforms, to ensure their voices were heard and that the full impact of these
proposals on the surrounding area was known. I was pleased to play my part in
highlighting issues around the process to the MMO, and must say a huge well
done to everyone involved in the campaign - a great example of what happens
when a community pulls together and pushes for the outcome they all want to
see.
This is just one example of some of the work that I do as
your MP, even during a period where it might traditionally be quieter than
usual. I hope you found it interesting, and I look forward to continuing to
share examples of my work on your behalf as we move on through 2024.
As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if
there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to
contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at
Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk, or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular
constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my
office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters
that I can be of assistance with.
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