Peel unveils 20-year Mersey ports masterplan
PEEL Ports has outlined a 20-year masterplan for its Mersey ports assets.
The firm held a launch event at the Mersey Maritime Centre yesterday ahead of a 13-week public consultation over its proposals. The document outlines the group’s strategy for dealing with a 70% expected increase in tonnage by 2030 which it expects to bring in 6,000 new jobs.
The docks currently handle around 40m tonnes of cargo a year, with 32.2m tonnes process at the Port of Liverpool and 7.4m using the Manchester Ship Canal.
Peel’s plan sets out its strategyt for handling this. They include proposals for the new deepwater container terminal at Seaforth and the development of a series of linked ports along the Manchester ship canal including Port Wirral, Port Bridgewater, Port Ince, Port Warrington and Port Salford.
In total, the firm said that the 44 mile stretch of water combining the Port of
Liverpool and The Manchester Ship Canal would incorporate over ten rail-lined ports and would have ten motorways within ten miles of the ports.
Peel said that the Mersey Maritime sector courrently employs around 20,550 people and contributes around £700mof GVA to the North West’s economy.
Its plans would add a further 6,000 jobs and create an extra £1.6bn in GVA by 2020 and £3.3bn in GVA in 2030.
Peel Ports Mersey managing director Gary Hodgson said: “The purpose of the Master Plan is to clarify our own strategic planning for the medium to long term – and inform all of our stakeholders; from regional and local planning bodies and transport network providers to port users, employees and, very importantly, people living in local communities, as to how they can expect to see the Port and Ship Canal develop over the coming years.
“This will be an extensive consultation, and we are asking people to get involved and tell us what they think. All written views will be carefully considered and will help to shape the final version of the Master Plan.”
Peel is planning a programme of events to display the plans throughout Merseyside and at Salford Quays during June and July. The dates and times of events, which will be staffed by members of its Project Mersey team, are listed below.
• Wednesday June 15 – Crowne Plaza, Pier Head, Liverpool,
• Thursday June 16 – Halton Stadium, Widnes
• Tuesday June 21 – Crosby Civic Hall, Crosby Road North
• Thursday June 23 – Pyramid, Palmyra Square South, Warrington
• Tuesday July 5 – Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey
• Thursday July 7 – Boat Museum, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port
• Tuesday July 2 – Eastham Lodge Golf Club, Ferry Road, Eastham
• Thursday July 14 – Digital World Centre (opp.The Lowry), Salford Quays
• Thursday July 21 – Bootle Town Hall, Oriel Road, Bootle
All events will take place between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.
