Ghost Ships
Secret U-turn on ghost ships plan?
COUNCILLORS who refused to allow so-called ghost ships to be scrapped at a North-East yard could be poised to make a dramatic U-turn, The Northern Echo has learned.
Two weeks after members of Hartlepool Borough Council's planning committee went against the advice of its senior officials and voted to reject the proposals by Able UK, they could change that decision at a secret session in nine days' time.
A source close to the planning committee revealed it is likely to change its initial refusal to allow the company to dismantle and recycle redundant US Navy ships, at the Graythorp yard, when it meets on Monday, November 6.
It is understood that a written submission on behalf of Able chairman and chief executive Peter Stephenson reveals up to 1,000 jobs could be at stake.
The jobs could come if the company won other contracts unrelated to the breaking up of ships, but dependant on Able winning approval to develop its Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre, at Graythorp.
Although he refused to comment on the possibility of a U-turn, planning committee member Councillor Stan Kaiser, the only member to support the proposals on October 12, told The Northern Echo last night: "I am extremely optimistic that the further discussions proposed by Able UK will be progressed quickly, and that a solution will be proposed which is to the benefit of all working people in this town.''
He said in light of the decision on October 12, "the planning committee will shortly be advised by the chief solicitor on the limitations and strengths of its case for both legal and appeal actions.
"In addition, Able UK has gone a long way to present, in writing, proposals which must be seriously considered by this committee because they are talking about the next 30 years industrial development in this town.''
A spokesman for Able UK said the company remained convinced its applications should receive approval, in line with the recommendations of the borough council's officials.
Continued - Page 3
6:00am Saturday 28th October 2006
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