After more than thirty years of delapidation the historic Quay is now teeming with workers who will be restoring the harbour wall, building a new footbridge connecting the High Street to the Quay and constructing thirty new houses. It has also been confirmed that the multi-million pound project will deliver a new Asda supermarket that is hoping to create over two hundred new local jobs.
George joined John Pollard, leader of Cornwall Council and representatives of ING, the owners of the site, for the ceremony. They were given a tour of the construction already underway.
George Eustice said: ‘I was delighted to mark the beginning of construction on Hayle’s South Quay. Credit is due to all those who have worked so hard to get this exciting project off the ground because it has been a complicated process. It is now time to get the job done and I am really looking forward to what a new South Quay will mean for the future of Hayle.’
George recently wrote an article on the future of Hayle which can be found below:
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR HAYLE
It is great to see that at long last developments on Hayle’s South Quay have finally begun. Residents won’t have failed to notice the site of construction workers and vehicles and their arrival marks a new phase in the revival of the town which promises to transform both the landscape and also the local economy. The project is going to totally redevelop a site which was left derelict for far too long and I know I am not alone in looking forward to watching the progress made and ultimately a new and vibrant harbour.It has not always been plain sailing for those involved and what has at long last come about began with some considerable objections from English Heritage over the historical nature of the site. They wanted the owners, ING bank, to work more closely with architects specialising in historic renovation and although ING were happy to do this they still objected and referred the decision back up to the government inviting them to block the plans. With both Hayle Town Council and Cornwall Council endorsing the new scheme and a lot of local support, the Secretary of State rightly set aside the objections of English Heritage and did the right thing by giving these plans the green light.
We are now seeing the plans come to life and what makes them so unique is the proposal for a supermarket in the centre at the Foundry end of South Quay with restaurants and other mixed development on the rest of the quay. I think that out of town supermarkets can drain life away from the town centre and the plans for Hayle’s new Asda will bring new life into the town rather than bleed more life away as well as creating over two hundred local jobs. The South Quay proposal will be connected in the most literal sense possible to the rest of the town with a footbridge over the harbour to Biggleston’s, one of Hayle’s oldest shops. When Cornwall Council granted permission to ING, they also included an obligation for the bank to repair the harbour walls and deliver the necessary flood defences which will provide a great foundation for the development.
Looking ahead there are some other brilliant ideas in the pipeline that mean a bright future for the town. There are plans for a redeveloped East Quay to become a new facility that will expand the towns fishing industry. I have argued for a shuttle boat link between St Ives and Hayle and these are starting to move closer to fruition. I think it is clear Hayle is growing from strength to strength and there is every reason to be optimistic for its future