Officials quash plans for space tourism in Cornwall
It follows suggestions it could operate from Spaceport Cornwall
The leader of Cornwall Council has poured cold water on the suggestion that space tourism could operate from Spaceport Cornwall.
There had been reports in national media recently that Sir Richard Branson could use the base at Cornwall Airport for his Virgin Galactic enterprise which will offer space flights for tourists.
Virgin is already a partner for Spaceport Cornwall which is to be used as a base for Virgin Orbit which uses horizontal launches to send small satellites into orbit.
But there had been a suggestion that Sir Richard also wanted to extend this to Virgin Galactic as well.
However at a meeting of full council yesterday leader Julian German said there were no plans for space tourism from Newquay.
The issue was first raised at the meeting by Sue James who asked Geoff Brown, Cabinet member for transport, to “reassure” residents that there were no plans for space tourism being launched from Cornwall.
She also asked whether if there was any move to change that then it would have to be approved by full council.
Cllr Brown said: “Absolutely correct, it was never an intention that we would do space tourism, it has always been about small satellites, low orbit launches monitoring climate change and that sort of thing.
“If at any time we were to look beyond that it would come back to council for decision if we were to look at space tourism.”
Cllr James asked Cllr Brown to issue a public statement on that matter “to stop all this nonsense going around the media”.
Newquay councillor John Fitter also asked about the matter highlighting that Sir Richard had been reported as saying that he might be in Cornwall when the G7 summit is held in Carbis Bay in June.
Cllr Fitter said: “Presuming, Cllr German, that you will be the leader of the new council at that time can you reinforce the message that Cllr Brown has given that Cornwall does not want and will not allow space tourism, which is an abundant waste of money, to operate from Cornwall Airport?”
Leader Cllr German replied: “Yes I can reiterate and confirm Cllr Brown’s position that Cornwall Council will not be taking forward any space tourism operation from the airport.”
Cllr Fitter then drilled home his thoughts on the matter adding: “If we were to entertain this it would be quite ridiculous and send out the wrong message to those people in Cornwall who could possibly be suffering on below the minimum wage and in poverty and allow people who have got vast millions of pounds to spend to up to space for half an hour and come back down again.
“It would send out the wrong message, Cornwall is not about that.”
Cllr German agreed and said that it would also conflict with the council’s work to tackle climate change and to become carbon neutral.
He added: “It would send out the wrong message to the residents of Cornwall.”