Skip to main content
Site logo

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Derek
  • News
  • Derek's Priorities
  • Local Campaigns
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Surveys
Site logo

The Future of Mount's Bay

  • Tweet
Wednesday, 28 July, 2021
  • Local News
Mounts Bay

Derek writes:

When Parliament closes for recess during August it provides an opportunity to pursue (with a bit more time and focus) ideas and initiatives that may otherwise be overlooked. I want to share one such area which may capture the imagination of readers who then decide to get involved!

Mounts Bay is one of our most beautiful natural assets and offers the potential as a lever for greater economic investment and return. Clearly Tom Cruise (with his luxury yacht moored in the Bay this week) finds the area a safe and attractive stop-off point!

Let me take you for a short walk…

If you were to head east to west St Michael’s Mount needs little introduction and remains an iconic island and testimony to our spiritual heritage (I’m deliberately overlooking those parts further east for the purpose of this particular narrative). The rail-link, including the new train care centre, can be utilised more to deliver access to skilled jobs and a reduced carbon footprint. The investment in the new trains and reduction in journey times (which can be further reduced) provides critical connectivity for West Cornwall and Scilly and should play a bigger part in our strategic thinking. The trains deliver passengers to the bus station connecting penwith and to the foot of Penzance Town which I’m told is the most recognised name of a town.

Continuing along the coastline you immediately arrive at Penzance Harbour, the Dry Dock and the base for businesses demanding particular skill sets such as engineering, hospitality, fishing and renewable energy. Don’t ignore the gold-painted post box as you pass which reminds us of our contribution to elite Olympic sport! On that note a quick mention of Helen Glover and Deborah Fleming who are in Japan making us proud.

Returning to Mounts Bay and heading west you hug the shoreline on the refurbished promenade passing the home of elite Cornish rugby and arriving in Newlyn to a possible surprise when you discover the significance of our arts and fishing compared to much of the UK. Both support large numbers of jobs and offer potential for more.

Continuing west takes you to Sandy Cove (the subject of plans for expansion in engineering jobs and other marine-related occupations) and Port Penlee with less emphasis on rock extraction and more on leisure pursuits.

Mousehole takes us to the end of this particular stroll along the coast but only to remind us of the need to find a balance between a successful tourism sector and the need for vibrant and connected communities.

This week I am joined by key people who are involved in many of the different aspects that give Mounts Bay its unique blend of natural environment, tourism and ‘industry’ to establish the need for a more strategic and mutually beneficial approach to this amazing section of our West Cornwall coastline. 

You may also be interested in

Derek Thomas

Mousehole infrastructure

In the week before the Whitsun Bank Holiday at the end of May 2018, a leak occurred in the waste water pipework underneath the car park next to the Coastguard Hotel in Mousehole.

Derek Thomas

Jobs and Growth

Derek Thomas is commited to ensuring that areas of deprivation in West Cornwall are brought out of poverty into a future with well-paid sustainable jobs.

Waves Cafe Derek with business owners

Small Businesses

In Derek’s West Cornwall constituency, 87% of businesses are classed as ‘micro businesses’ employing less than 10 employees. Derek continues to argue that the UK’s imminent departure from the EU offers the Government an ideal opportunity to reform what he sees as an out-dated and unfair Business Rate system.

Tree Planting

A greener West Cornwall & Scilly

I am committed to taking action to cut harmful emissions and enhance nature. This is not only essential for the future of our planet but also improves our health and wellbeing.

My work for the environment has three main elements:

Parliamentary

Derek as an MP

Derek was first elected as Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (St Ives) in the 2015 General Election, becoming the first Conservative MP for the area since 1997. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2019.

Derek's work in Parliament 2015-2021

Derek in hard hat.

Promoting business

I want a new fairer deal for small businesses. They are the commercial lifeblood of Cornwall providing the majority of employment. We must support them and promote them.

Derek with George Eustice and Rob Wing

Supporting fishing and farming

I will ensure that these vital industries get the Government support they need to flourish whilst at the same time providing environmental benefits and food security.

Derek speaks about cancer

Derek campaigns for brain tumour funding

Wednesday, 15 March, 2023

During brain tumour awareness month, Derek has campaigned for the funding of brain tumour research to be improved.

At the beginning of the month, he launched a report which showed how the system for funding research is broken.

News

  • Brexit

Show only

  • Articles
  • Assembly News
  • European News
  • Local News
  • Ministerial letters
  • Opinions
  • Reports
  • Speeches
  • Speeches in Parliament
  • Westminster News

Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives, West Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
Promoted by Derek Thomas MP of Constituency Office, Wharfside Shopping Centre, Wharf Road, Penzance, TR18 2GB
Copyright 2023 Derek Thomas, MP for St Ives, West Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree