Dover protest over threat to cruise business
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The ports of Dover and Southampton
have united to oppose a bid by Liverpool to grab a slice of their
cruise business.
As many as 12,000 people from both towns signed a petition that
has been handed in at 10 Downing Street.
Residents, port workers and industry suppliers oppose the plan
to develop a cruise terminal with public funding worth £20m,
claiming it will compete with terminals paid for by private
investment.
Liverpool is seeking a go-ahead to its plans to operate cruise
operations and the government is expected to announce its verdict
before the end of the month.
The UK Cruise Port Alliance (UKCPA) estimates the move could
cost the Dover and Southampton economies around £80m.
It is calling on the government to insist Liverpool pays back
all the public money it received to build the terminal, including
£9m from the EU.
Jimmy Chestnutt, UKCPA chairman, said: "This is a very simple
issue - it's about fairness and a level playing field in the
cruise industry. People clearly don't want to see their jobs and
businesses damaged by competition funded by their own taxes."
Tuesday, January 24 2012
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