The controversial proposal to build a seafood park on a greenfield site in Newlyn Coombe moved a step closer to becoming reality yesterday, as project officers held talks to clinch a deal to buy the land.

As The Cornishman was going to press yesterday, Tony Woodhams, regeneration project manager for Newlyn, said that a meeting was taking place between the South West Regional Development Agency and the agent acting for landowner, Chris Perkins.

"I am hoping that a deal will be clinched by the end of the day and that we'll have the land we need for the seafood park," said Mr Woodhams.

"This is a very exciting step forward for Newlyn and our plans to regenerate the fishing industry and to keep fishing in Newlyn."

He said that the groups, organisations and businesses involved with all aspects of the regeneration proposals, including the Newlyn Harbour Commissioners and Edward Iliffe of MDL, which owns Penlee Quarry, will be making a presentation to a meeting of the full Penwith Council on January 18.

"A scale model has been made of each of the projects being proposed, including one of the proposals for the new Scillonian terminal at Penzance," he said.

"These will be linked together as part of the presentation, so that people can get a clear overall idea of what is being proposed."

Mr Woodhams said that a business case study had now been completed in draft form and was currently being looked at by the Harbour Commissioners for their agreement.

"We are also about to appoint an architect for the new fish market project and then there will be a public consultation on its design."

Mr Woodhams said that the county council had just put in a bid to the granting organisation, Living Landmarks, for £34 million to regenerate a number of harbours and ports in Cornwall, including funds to pay for the proposed new multi-use fish market at Newlyn.

Andrew Munson, harbour master at Newlyn, said that 2006 could be the beginning of change in the port.

He said work would begin on Monday on installing new fish cooling rooms in the fish market, costing around £150,000.

By the end of the month a £2 million scheme to dredge the harbour and install mooring pontoons for smaller fishing boats should be underway.

"Over the last 12 months we have carried out a number of improvements in the harbour including the upgrading of the slipway and the new lighting at the North Pier to reduce light pollution," he said.

"The new chill rooms, which can be moved if the fish market itself is moved, will mean that fish landed at Newlyn can be kept fresh.

"We are all trying to do our best to keep fishing in Newlyn, despite great set backs such as the rise in world oil prices, which is crippling the industry."

Edward Iliffe, of MDL, said that the meeting with Penwith Council on January 18 would be the "crunch meeting" for the Newlyn proposals.

"We are ready and waiting with our project at Penlee Quarry," he said. "This is the year we would like to push forward with our planning application and to work closely with Penwith Council on our proposals.

"Newlyn's projects have moved forward over the past 12 months and everyone is now clearer about what they want to achieve for the area."

The meeting on January 18 is at St John's Hall, Penzance, at 7pm and is open to the public.

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