Liverpool settles £8.8m cruise liner terminal bill

[nellydean]

Liverpool council settles £8.8m River Mersey cruise liner terminal bill with the government

by David Bartlett, Liverpool EchoOct 8 2012

 

 

THE long-running River Mersey cruise terminal saga is finally over – after Liverpool council settled its £8.8m government bill.

 

The Government lifted a ban on the Pier Head being used for "turnaround" cruises (voyages which start and finish in the city centre) in May.

 

The ban was lifted on the condition almost all the £9.2m government grant which helped build the £20m waterfront facility was repaid. The move led to howls of protest from rival ports such as Southampton.

 

Today, the ECHO can reveal the city council has paid back the necessary £8.8m in full.

 

 

The payment was made late last month after the Department for Communities and Local Government handed over details of the payment mechanism to city officials.

 

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Each ship brings in thousands of passengers, tourists and crew. These people fill up our hotels and restaurants and boost the economy on a massive scale. Liverpool has an unrivalled maritime history and we are now on the way to restoring our reputation as a leading cruise destination.

 

"For far too long, holidaymakers in the North have had to travel to and from other places to start their journeys.

 

“ This is helping to return Liverpool to its rightful place as a major cruise port.

 

“We agreed to abide by the ruling of the independent arbiter and pay the money back,. And that is exactly what we have done. As soon as the Government gave us details of how they would like the payment to be made, we arranged for it to be settled promptly.

 

“The cruise liner terminal is proving to be a huge success and we have had extremely positive feedback from operators and passengers.”

 

The council was given the option of phasing payments over 15 years. But it would have brought the total amount repaid to £12.6m.

 

A row flared over the repayment in the summer when transport minister Mike Penning attacked the city for not having paid the money back. He claimed the city had not told him when the cash would be repaid.

 

A leaked letter, sent by Mr Penning a month after his complaint, shows no mechanism for the repayment of the money had been made at that stage.

 

In the letter, Mr Penning wrote: "With regard to the timing of the agreed repayment of the UK grant money, it is my understanding that DCLG are actively considering a suitable mechanism for the process and timing of this repayment and will shortly be in touch with Liverpool council."

 

A temporary Customs and baggage building, parking and drop-off facilities are operating opposite the current facility on Princes Parade. It is being leased during the cruise season until 2015.

 

The council has drawn up plans for a permanent facility – including a new hotel.

 

The terminal hosted around 30 vessels this year – a mixture of turnaround, day call and other ships.

 

 

 

Read More http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2012/10/08/liverpool-council-settles-8-8m-river-mersey-cruise-liner-terminal-bill-with-the-government-100252-31987287/#ixzz28hwHyKiB

 

Excellent, now we can move on, with no more sniping comments from Southampton. Really looking forward to sailing into my home port one day :)

[Mim Lloyd]

Well in!!