PRESS RELEASE

                BASERESULT PLAN FOR SOUTH CROFTY IS ‘VISIONARY’

Managers and staff at Baseresult Holdings at South Crofty in Camborne reacted with ‘surprise and annoyance’ when told that the Urban Regeneration Company would be seeking to acquire the site – with a Compulsory Purchase Order if necessary.  The URC made the announcement on the day that Baseresult submitted its outline planning application for South Crofty to Kerrier District Council.

The company has issued the following statement:

‘Our plan to re-open the tin mine and regenerate 27 acres of the surface area of the site by putting all the mine processing equipment underground has been drawn up after regular meetings with the URC that started last May. Nigel Smith, URC’s previous Chief Executive, wrote to us on 9 May saying: ‘The Board is keen to see a quality mixed development on the site, comprising principally housing and employment and leisure space.’  Public statements from Mr Smith’s successor, Dr Tim Williams, reflected that aim.  In response to Dr Williams’ request for clarity about our plans by February, we have developed a proposal, delivered within that timeframe, that encompasses all the elements the URC wants – together with the added bonus of a working tin mine, employing 200 people, that will carry out its processing and waste management underground. 

‘Despite our repeated assurances that we are fully committed to achieving a viable economic future for South Crofty tin mine, we are told that we are not important enough as a company to be able to succeed.  We may not be Rio Tinto PLC, but we are mine planning and mine management experts – unlike some of those who regularly express their views on the basis of experience far less broad and long than ours.  We have spent three years researching and developing our mining plans at South Crofty – three years that have been fully funded at no inconsiderable cost – and we are now ready to proceed to the next stage of operation. We know that what we are proposing can work and we know that we can get the finance to achieve it. 

‘We don’t understand why the URC seems intent on losing the potential of a working tin mine – with the hundreds of jobs it will generate – in order to spend taxpayers’ money on developing a scheme for South Crofty so similar to our own. 

‘Dr Tim Williams has issued a statement saying that the URC wants South Crofty ‘to be acquired for a visionary development that will require top class developers’.  We totally agree that this site has to be as iconic in regeneration terms as the landmark headgear it will surround.  To that end, we are already working with an expert team in the field who have helped us produce our plans.  Our planning submission is an outline however. We are as committed to working with the URC on the detail as we ever were.  Like them, we want what is best for the community because, as people who live locally, it is our community too.

‘We don’t want a battle but – contrary to what those who have accused us of attempting to add value to our land in order to make a fast profit might think – we fully intend to fight any acquisition order.  Compulsory purchase can be a long drawn out affair – one that will inevitably delay any development at South Crofty.  We want to be allowed to get on with our business – a business that we believe will result in hundreds of local jobs and give Cornwall back its tin mining pride.

‘Our plea to the URC is this:  give us a chance.  Work with us to achieve a South Crofty solution that will be the envy of the world.  We want to work with you, not against you. 

‘Baseresult may be small but it doesn’t lack either capacity or vision.’

Ends                                                                                       13 February 2004