By Alan Irving

Published at 15:50, Wednesday, 01 December 2010

IMPROVEMENTS costing £5.7 million to the port of Workington will benefit the whole of West Cumbria and the county as a whole.

BRIGHT FUTURE: the Port of Workington has been given £4million worth of funding to secure its future. From left: Brian Hough, socio-economic manager with the NDA, Colin Sharpe, business development manager, Port of Workington, and Gary McKeating, head of socio-economics, Nuclear Management Partners

The £5.7 million investment is set to have a major impact on Cumbria’s infrastructure by opening up a regular trade route for local businesses with the rest of Europe.

The investment is a key project of Britain’s Energy Coast, with the funding provided by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Nuclear Management Partners. It comes on top of £4m illion being spent on repairing the port’s infrastructure damaged in floods a year ago.

NDA is contributing £1.7million which will be used for port infrastructure improvements to improve overall capability and help attract further investment.

NMP is contributing £4million to create a new container handling facility, including the installation of a new harbour crane to enable the port to handle large shipping containers from all over Europe.

The arrival of the crane, extensive improvements to the port’s facilities and the introduction of a weekly scheduled feeder container service, is said to provide “a truly sustainable logistics option for businesses in Cumbrian and beyond” becoming a major player in the European logistics arena.

Energy Coast and port board member Tim Knowles hailed it as “a fantastic vote of confidence in a crucial local business”.

He went on: “It helps ensure that what has been seen as a small regional port continues its progress to becoming the Energy Coast’s real strategic gateway to the rest of the world.

As the container port develops it has huge potential to make Cumbrian business more comprehensive and sustainable. It’s estimated that if Cumbrian businesses use the container port instead of the North East options lorry travel could be reduced by up to 2,500,000 miles with all the cost and pollution savings.

“I expect the port’s continued development will help provide a crucial transport option for the huge investment being made at Sellafield including the reactors to be constructed by our newest inward investor (Nugeneration Ltd), the international consortium planning to build a 3.6GW capacity reactor at the site.”

John Clarke, the NDA’s executive director of Business Planning and a board member of Britain’s Energy Coast emphasised: “Investment at the port is seen as a key opportunity to both strengthen the existing West Cumbria economy and also help it grow in the future.

“The investment is entirely consistent with our support for Britain’s Energy Coast and our socio economic policy.

“It’s a fantastic example of the public and private sectors working in partnership, both in terms of funding and delivery.”

NMP’s head of socio-economics, Gary McKeating, said: “We are delighted to be able to make this private sector investment under the Energy Coast banner and these improvements to the port will have a significant impact on Cumbrian industry and the economic sustainability of the region.

“This is NMP’s first significant infrastructure investment and will enable the port to offer a better, more regular service, to enable existing companies to develop their businesses.”

Eddie Martin, leader of Cumbria County Council, the port’s owners, enthused: “The upgrade of the port’s facilities is a big and bold statement that Cumbria has global ambitions to attract more trade and more visitors.

“The support we’re receiving from NMP and the NDA is particularly welcome at a time when Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership is laying down the foundations for future economic growth.

“At a time when all the talk is about cutbacks and reductions, the port is bucking the trend with this ambitious project to build on its status as a major hub for transport and trade.”

Workington’s port is one of the largest ports in Cumbria and aspires to be a significant hub for the North West. Serving the region’s industry and agriculture, it has the potential to supply most of the major manufacturing and processing businesses in the region.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk