Penzance heliport

[bloomen]

Anyone keeping abreast of the ongoing handbagging about a second helicopter service put together by the fella on Tresco for the isles of Scilly flying from Penzance?

Isles of Scilly Steamship group appear to be pulling out every conceivable stop to prevent it including leaflet campaigns with some very choice claims -

https://penzanceheliport.co.uk/stop-the-chop-respo...

“On the east side of Penzance it’s estimated helicopter noise will cause a 15% increase in cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes and increases in anxiety and depression.”

“Predicted noise at Gulval School is known to cause learning and memory problems in children.”

A survey among people on the IoS electoral roll puts them 97% in favour of it https://www.thisisscillynews.com/single-post/2018/...

The Steamship group is offering to work together flying from Land's End. I've been stranded enough times to know Penzance is a better location.

Do you reckon it's pure monopoly protection and self interest or does the Steamship group have a valid worry about there not being enough custom to support it all?

[Eric Mc]

If only somebody had thought about it years ago.

Picture taken around 1964 -

[bloomen]

I was on the second to last ever flight for that.

I find it slightly strange that they're arguing that flying out of Penzance will mutate the population when they themselves did it for several decades.

[Johnnybee]

When I was small we used to have family in Sennen and I can clearly remember the heliport in Penzance. It was all very exciting for a small boy to see a helicopter landing or taking off so close to the road.

[Phud]

Their claims should shut Culdrose down then

[Butter Face]

The claims on that leaflet are utterly bonkers

[twister]

Endorsed by The Simpsons though, can't argue with that...

[anonymous-user]

Butter Face said:

The claims on that leaflet are utterly bonkers

The things Nimbys and monopoly holders do eh to try and make a case.

[bloomen]

speedyguy said:

The things Nimbys and monopoly holders do eh to try and make a case.

I find it weird that they're going so balls out with this. It's the type of thing that can tear an island community apart and Mr Tresco is going to have some very deep pockets.

The Steamship Group's own helicopter service was introduced out of nowhere recently and presumably it was largely to spite this proposal as it's hard to imagine it's making any money or adding to serviceability.

If the planes don't fly from Land's End I don't see how the helicopter does.

Edited by bloomen on Monday 23 July 22:04

[bompey]

Its a load of cobblers. Have flown on the new heli this week and it worked a treat.

[bloomen]

bompey said:

Its a load of cobblers. Have flown on the new heli this week and it worked a treat.

That's cos it's the height of summer. Even in September I've been stuck for two days on both sides of the flight I was supposed to be taking.

[GliderRider]

Bring back the Dragon Rapides!

[MitchT]

Don't get what all the fuss is about. The previous Penzance heliport was never an issue. Makes much more sense than the one at Land's End.

[pete]

bloomen said:

That's cos it's the height of summer. Even in September I've been stuck for two days on both sides of the flight I was supposed to be taking.

I had many helicopter flights from Penzance to Scilly in the old Scotia days where we'd take off in clear weather, arrive over St Mary's airport in thick fog, circle round for 20 minutes unable to see the ground, then fly back to Penzance.

[Stirlings]

St just airport is about 500 feet blues above sea level
Penzance heliport was by the beach
St Just is infamous for being shrouded in fog at all times of the year

Hence it makes sense to have a heliport where it was than at st just