The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company (IOSSCO) has invested in a new terminal building and ATC tower at Lands End Airport to cope with future demand given the loss of the helicopter service.  The photograph, taken today (in rather evil conditions) shows construction well advanced.  The IOSSCO has also anounced the purchase of an additional Twin Otter aircraft (19 seater) to add to the Skybus fleet to meet demand in 2013.

What Lands End Airport needs, but which appears beyond the resources of the IOSSCO, is a hard (tarmac) strip to replace its grass strip which is prone to getting waterlogged.  As the airport now serves a vital function supporting the Isles of Scilly community and will see a great increase in flights in 2013 this may become a priority.

Poor retail figures in October add to High Street Gloom

Very difficult conditions look likely to persist in the Nation's high streets.  Retail sales were down in October after perking up in September.  See retail-week.com.

Read on for comments on Comet, Argos and BBC item on  Distessed Retail Property Task Force:

FRIST meets with Minister for Transport - 1 Nov 2012

Representatives of the Friends of Isles of Scilly Transport (FRIST) met with Norman Baker, Transport Minister, on 1 Nov 2012 in London.  FRIST made its case for affordable, reliable all year round lifeline transport links to the mainland.  The meetings was deemed a success.  The Minister is watching to see how Scilly copes with the loss of the helicopter and made no onerous undertakings.  He did however leave the door open for further meetings.  The Chairman of IOS Council, Mike Hicks and another IOS Councillor accompanied FRIST to the meetings.

Click here for FRIST press release.
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Committee Meeting - Tue 6 Nov 2012 (7.30)

The Chamber's monthly Committee meetings takes place on Tue 6 Nov at 7.30 pm in the Wharfside Centre Conference Room (top floor - follow signs for 'Management Office'). The agenda can be found here.   All Committee meetings are open meetings (members can attend if they wish).

The December Committee meetings will take place on Tue 4 Dec (same time, same place).

Helicopter service to Scilly ends

There was a good turnout at Penzance Heliport on Wednesday evening to mark the end of BIH service to the Isles of Scilly, the end of an era and the end of a unique service shared between Scilly and Penzance.  It was a service like no other that operated in just about all weathers when other services failed. It was a service important to many peoples lives and Wednesday night's send off from Penzance Heliport reflected this.

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