As seen in The Cornishman Thu, 25th August 2011

Heliport plans will be shown

Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Cornishman

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL HELICOPTERS (BIH) will reveal its detailed plans for a new heliport in St Erth at a public exhibition next month.

The firm, based at Eastern Green, which operates an air link between the mainland and the Isles of Scilly, struck a deal with St Aubyn Estates earlier this year.

The company has now announced it will be applying for planning permission to relocate its operations from Jelbert Way to a site close to St Erth railway station.

It will also be holding a public exhibition at St Erth Church Hall in Green Lane on Wednesday, September 7, between noon and 8pm and on Thursday, September 8 between 10am and 2pm.

Managing director Tony Jones said: "We've been operating the helicopter service to the Isles of Scilly since 1964 and are committed to doing all we can to continue running this service in the future."

The firm had been actively seeking a new flying base in West Cornwall since announcing its relocation, he said.

"It's very important to BIH to be a good neighbour and I look forward to meeting local residents at one of our consultation events to share and discuss our plans in more detail," said Mr Jones.

Autumn

The company would not submit a planning application until after the public consultation had gathered feedback, but it hoped to file it later in the autumn after the consultation process was complete, he said.

The announcement follows a search for a suitable relocation site within the county.

The site is close to the A30, local bus services and facilities, St Erth railway station and to the proposed site of a park-and-ride transport interchange hub.

The planned move is subject to the successful sale of the current heliport at Eastern Green to supermarket giant Sainsbury's.