MPs’ Report Supports PD Case for Deep Port on Tees
THE battle to build a pounds 300m deep sea terminal with the potential to generate 5,500 jobs on Teesside has been boosted by a new report from MPs.
The House of Commons transport select committee has demanded rapid improvements to the UK’s dilapidated railways to ensure ports can compete effectively.
The report attacks the Government’s existing “ports must pay” policy for preventing the movement of cargo by rail and forcing it on to congested roads.
But the MPs also endorse research that says the expansion plans at Felixstowe, Harwich and London Gateway on the Thames will provide sufficient deep sea capacity to serve the UK’s needs until 2020.
More positively for PD, the report said: “The ports industry needs a national strategy that recognises the regional context and looks to balance national trade requirements with the local imperatives of regeneration, employment and environmental protection.
“It would clearly be of benefit to the regions, in terms of employment, regeneration and environmental impact, if there was a more even distribution of port traffic.
“This may be possible to achieve with some incentives directed at making it easier to move freight inland from northern or western ports.”
PD Ports group development director Martyn Pellew said: “We are delighted that the committee has called on the Government to produce a national plan that ensures the sustainable development of ports across the UK, and prioritises the development of inland infrastructure services as well as promoting regional ports.
“The question for the southern ports is, when will they get built? They are not without problems.
“Felixstowe needs a public inquiry over its rail expansion’ Harwich still has a major road infrastructure upgrade to be built’ and London Gateway does not have full planning approval. And they have not been able to agree road access to get to the M25.”
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