Cornwall Council faces judicial review over Isles of Scilly heliport decision

Transport operators on the Isles of Scilly are locked in a dispute that could see planning permission for a heliport judicially reviewed.

Penzance Heliport gained permission from Cornwall Council in February for construction of the facility to reinstate a helicopter link with the islands, which it hopes to start in 2018.

But the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, which operates ferry and aircraft links, has launched proceedings for a judicial review of the council’s decision.

Steamship chairman Andrew May said: “We are not against a helicopter operation and do not have a ‘monopoly’ in transport services as is claimed – the market is open to any operator wishing to operate sea or air services to the Isles. 

“Our primary concern relates to the serious socio-economic consequences of creating a new heliport and the effect the proposal will have on the long term sustainability of the wider transport network and future investment in it, including a replacement for the Scillonian III ferry.”

The group’s chief executive Rob Goldsmith said his company had Penzance Heliport offered use of its nearby Land’s End airport “as a base for a competing helicopter service including heavily discounted fees compared with the current rate paid by our fixed-wing Skybus operation, and a service level agreement to ensure that any helicopter operation would not be disadvantaged”, but this had been declined.

In a message to residents, Robert Dorrien-Smith, an investor in the helipad project, said: “I do not see this [judicial review] just as an attack on our project, but an attack on the islands, islanders and our visitors by a company that claims to be proud of its Scillonian heritage.

“On the one hand we have a transport monopoly trying to prevent improvements to the transport system, against the wishes of islanders and Penzance people. On the other hand we have an entire community wanting something better.”

Mr Dorrien-Smith said the Steamship Company was abusing its power “on a very serious scale” and that its move was not comparable to a planning challenge on the mainland since there were no alternative ways to reach Scilly.

“This obstructive move by the Steamship Company will only ever be seen for what it is: an anti-competitive action, dressed up in as much legal fog as they can muster,” he said.

Mark Smulian