Port problems
- 26 March 2011 07:2198689You think Dover has Port difficulties just bear of thought for the people of Falmouth where a £160 million regeneration scheme which would have created 800 much-needed jobs in a struggling town has been blocked by an EU ruling - to protect algae on the sea bed.
A rare form of algae called Maerl is growing off the docks in Falmouth, Cornwall apparently it takes 8000 years to form- but it cannot be moved or tampered with because the site is listed as a Special Area of Conservation Sir John Banham, a former chief of the Confederation of British Industry who is now leader of the local Enterprise Partnership, attacked the 'unaccountable bureaucrats' who have blocked the scheme.
He said: 'They need to think very carefully about who they are working for and who pays their salaries.'What I am expecting from them is to find solutions to the situation and not indulge in negative bureaucratic foot-dragging. 'We are in an era of austerity and we desperately need new jobs.''They need to wake up and smell the coffee.
'EU rulings can't take into account the impact on local lives. The plans include dredging the Fal and Helford estuaries to accommodate larger ships and make the port deeper which would allow the port to admit larger ships and cruise liners. Right Vic and AlexD get your teeth into that.....Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter) - 26 March 2011 12:5998703just about sums up the bully boys in brussels, always interested in issuing another ruling over us all.
justifies their jobs, i suppose. - 26 March 2011 14:0098706I am looking forward to the Vic n Alex response.........
- 26 March 2011 15:0098709Marek, Bern, if the EU ruling has decreed that the port cannot be excavated, owing to algae, then the EU ruling is binding, as there is a reason and a law that the ruling is based upon.
EU law is binding in Britain, and not to follow an EU law can result in a fine being paid, in some cases, and in other cases in other sorts of action.
To have a referendum on the EU - on EU membership - would give Britain the possibility to avoid laws coming from Brussels. Otherwise, there is little I can say to all this.
I suppose I might ask Marek and Bern what your views are on EU membership, as you are both interested in knowing my view in this instance of an EU ruling.
However, concerning this rare algae, would it be possible to have some of it transferred to other parts of our shores, assuming that it is of a positive nature to marine life. Does this algae serve to regenerate oxygen?
If it has some good properties, in theory it should be possible to cultivate it. If applied to Dover, it might hopefully prevent Councillor Vic from excavating off-shore coal-mines if he is swept to power in May.
For all we know, the proposed T2 site might be sitting on a vast heap of coal, and Vic could present the case to Parliament, that the area is worth much more than £400.million! That could block quite a few instances of dispute.
To add then to Western Docks some rare algae protected by law, would add an extra sheen to it all, and start off a further imbedded instance of dispute.
Now I may have opened here a can of worms.
Chanters, Drums and Drones Potty Time http://youtu.be/99fMqpjnXYA
Rule Britannia!
Kent First http://youtu.be/04F3mAP3fV4 Keep banging on http://youtu.be/qYCU_SKmkGQ - 26 March 2011 19:0798772Maerl is harvested here, in Falmouth and in France and elsewhere, for its fertilizer properties. It is not rare as such, it just takes many years to grow and hence not very responsive to being moved.
I am 100% behind conservation around the world and believe we should do what we can, where and when we can.
Is this algae rare, does it have any important qualities, no.
Falmouth should be given the go ahead with their Regeneration Scheme and be instructed to do what they can to minimise detriment to this algae.
The numpties who have made this decision must have this seaweed as brain matter."My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 26 March 2011 20:1998779I worked in the Falmouth dock yard,I like it down there,well you all know what the UK should do come out of the EU.