§ Baroness Nicolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, given the increased level of noise as a result of port operation and the haulage of freight through residential areas, there is to be any provision to ensure that those dependent on the tourist industry do not suffer as a result of the construction of a container terminal at Falmouth.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)The construction of the container terminal was authorised by the Falmouth Container Terminal Act 1971. The environmental issues involved, including the effects of additional road transport, were considered when the Bill was before Parliament. The promoters of the project, Falmouth Container Terminal Ltd., have forecast that only a small proportion of the terminal's freight will be transported by road: distribution will be primarily by feeder vessels and the bulk of the remainder by rail. The control of noise emissions from the terminal will be a matter for the company to resolve with local authorities.