Expansion of port 'crucial for region'

10:39am Wednesday 18th October 2006

TEESPORT'S expansion is crucial not only for the North-East, but for the good of the UK as a whole, the State of the Nation report claimed.

In a ringing endorsement of PD Ports' arguments for its £300m container terminal, Ice said the Government needed to include Teesport's expansion in its national ports strategy, due for final publication in the spring.

David Wood, senior vice chairman of Ice North-East, said: "The region needs to use the port, and its deep water facilities, which are a major natural asset, if we are to become an economic powerhouse once again.

"The Government's ports review has largely focused on the ports in the South-East, such as Felixstowe, Harwich, and the Thames Gateway, yet 50 per cent of goods that come in are destined for places north of Birmingham, so why not bring it directly into the North?"

Martyn Pellew, group development director at PD Ports, welcomed the independent Ice report and said he would be using its comments to make his case to Government. Mr Pellew is expected to meet the chairman of the transport select committee on Friday to argue the case for Teesport's expansion.

The Northern Echo has been backing Teesport's plans through its Support our Port campaign.

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