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MEP issues renewed protests against Liverpool dock proposals

MEP for the North East Martin Callanan is encouraging businesses in the region to sign a petition against proposals to use the Liverpool Cruise terminal for turaround calls.

In 2007 Liverpool City Council received £21 million of public funding to build a cruise ferry terminal for day visits only. However they are now applying for permission to change the status of the port, which could in turn adversely affect the North East shipping industry.

While the government refused Liverpool Council’s request to use the port for turnaround calls in 2009, they repeated their request again in 2010.

In July 2011, the Department of Transport launched a proposal to remove the conditions of fair competition legislation if the council repays the exchequer £5.3 million back over the next 15 years.

However, this would not include the £9 million from the European Regional Development Fund that the council also received.

Mr Callanan commented: “I have no objection whatsoever in seeing Liverpool boost its cruise industry as long as it is done in a way that is fair to all.

“There is nothing fair about receiving £21m of taxpayers’ money on the condition that the terminal would not accept turnaround calls, only to seek permission later to have that legal agreement torn up without having to hand back the public money received in the first place. ’

An online petition has been established to protest against the proposals, and has already received over 3,000 signatures, which Mr Callnan is urging others to sign, to encourage Liverpool to repay the sum in full.

Mr Callanan added: “I urge everyone in the North East, including businesses which rely on the Port of Tyne, to sign the petition and send a clear message to Liverpool and the Government.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .