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PLANS to build a new £5 million fish market in Newlyn hang in the balance.
The harbour commissioners in the important Cornish fishing port have now been given until the middle of August to raise the £2.3 million needed to proceed with the project. The plans include a new chilled market hall, an auction room and a meeting area.
Hopes that the scheme could go ahead were raised earlier this year when the European Fisheries Fund has agreed a matching £2.3 million grant together with a European Regional Development Fund grant of £970,000. But that money is dependent on the remainder being found by the Newlyn Harbour Commissioners - and that means much of it must come from the local fishing industry. The money would be raised from landings and fish selling dues.
The Commissioner and Newlyn harbour master, Andrew Munson said this week that the local fishing industry wanted modern facilities. But he added:"It has to be paid for and to pay for it has to come from the cod end of the fishing. It's no good crippling an industry to put something up that won't be of any use of because they won't be able to afford to use it."
The main fishing company in Newlyn, W. Stevenson and Son, says that while modern facilities are needed, it was vital that the industry did not take on debts that may become a burden in future. That view is shared by most members of the local fishing industry, with some member preferring to see a central fish market serving the whole of Cornwall. Either way a decision will have to be made by August 20th otherwise the project will have to be shelved.
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