BID Letter to Transport Secretary

Mr P McLoughlin
Secretary of State for Transport House of Commons, Westminster SW1A 1AA

Dear Mr McLoughlin

I write with reference to the vital mainline rail service connection between London/the South East and the West Country, and on behalf of the Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID), a body that represents a community of over 400 businesses from one of Cornwall’s largest and most prosperous resorts.

The Falmouth area welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually and the BID drives forward numerous, innovative projects (www.falmouth.co.uk/media) that aim to give Falmouth a competitive advantage, support its diverse range of businesses and encourage opportunity despite the prevailing challenges arising from current economic conditions.

In addition, Falmouth’s maritime sector has a reputation for excellence that extends beyond the UK and the recently outlined Port of Falmouth Masterplan is seen as one of the most critical economic development strategies for the region. It is one that will see a multi-million pound investment in Falmouth Docks to ensure its viability and competiveness for a generation, securing thousands of jobs and livelihoods in the process.
Falmouth and its neighbouring town, Penryn have also seen multi-million pound public sector investment during the past decade in the development of a flagship university campus at Tremough.

Shared and jointly managed by University College Falmouth, which is regarded as one of the UK’s leading arts universities and the University of Exeter, that has recently been invited to join the Russell Group of leading research institutions, the Campus is the County’s Higher Education hub; the catalyst for Cornwall’s economic regeneration as part of the European-funded Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative; and is a key driver of new business incubation in the south west, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability and the creative industries.

A reliable, frequent and speedy rail service between Penzance and Paddington is vital to the continuing success of our tourism, maritime, higher education, environmental and creative industry sectors. When you evaluate bids for the Great Western franchise shortly, we would therefore urge you to ensure that:

1. The number of trains operating the London Paddington – Penzance route remains at least the same as now and is not reduced.
2. There is a thorough review of service that focuses on ways in which the journey time between London Paddington and Penzance can be reduced. Faster trains, with fewer station stops at certain times of day/week would open up business opportunities for the region, ensuring synergy with the positive developments that are taking place in the County in the sectors referred to above.

The demand for cross-country and regional rail services clearly exists and this is no better exemplified than by the 90% increase in usage of the branch Truro-Falmouth Maritime Line over the past five years making it the fastest growing branch line in the country. Whilst we are relieved that the future of this branch line has been secured, as well as the sleeper service to Paddington, Cornwall’s future depends on improved rail services. Quite simply it is a lifeline that connects Cornwall to the rest of the UK.

The Falmouth BID very much hopes that the coalition Government and future West Country rail service provider can work collaboratively and innovatively with key regional business organisations to ensure that Cornwall is positioned to potential visitors and investors as an attractive proposition by rail.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

Richard Wilcox Falmouth BID Manager

Cc Falmouth BID Board Mrs Sarah Newton, MP for Falmouth and Truro and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Mr George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth Mr Kevin Lavery, Chief Executive, Cornwall Council Ms Suzanne Bond, Chief Executive, Cornwall Development Company Cllr Mr Alec Robertson, Leader of Cornwall Council Mr Peter Child, Managing Director, A&P Falmouth Mr Henk Wiekens - Joint Managing Director, Pendennis Shipyard Professor Anne Carlisle, Rector, University College Falmouth Mr Steve Trotter, Assistant Director, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus Mr Chris Pomfret, Chairman, Cornwall & IOS Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Cornwall Town Manager and BID Forum Mr Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall Cllr Mr Geoffrey Evans, Mayor of Falmouth Mr Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager