AN MP has accused ministers of ignoring the effect on Southampton of Liverpool’s controversial cruise expansion plans.

Southampton Itchen MP John Denham said it was “extraordinary”

that the Department for Transport (DfT) was not carrying out an impact assessment study into proposals to relax the restrictions on Liverpool’s publicly-subsidised cruise terminal.

The DfT says an assessment didn’t need to be carried out under its rules.

However Mr Denham told the Daily Echo: “I think it’s extraordinary that they’re not carrying out an impact assessment.

“The consultation document claims that the impact on Southampton will be limited, because the number of vessels that go to Liverpool will be limited.

The council has already pointed out that Liverpool will be allowed more vessels than Southampton.

“How can they say the impact will be limited, but not do an assessment of it?

“This suggests that the whole consultation document is just being made up to suit what ministers want to do.

I would expect there to be some evidence brought forward to support what the government wants to do.”

There is a growing row – dubbed Cruise Wars – over Liverpool’s expansion plans, which are currently out for consultation.

The northern city’s existing cruise terminal was built using £21m of public money, on the agreement that it would only be used for stopping off during cruises.

Now Liverpool wants to become a “turnaround facility”

– allowing cruises to start and finish there, jeopardising Southampton’s lucrative cruise trade.

Ministers are set to agree to relax the restrictions if Liverpool repays just £5.3m of its handout.

On Saturday, below, the Daily Echo revealed that the raid on turnaround cruises is just a part of Liverpool’s £5.5bn plans for a world class waterfront.

Peel Ports has drawn up a masterplan featuring a second cruise terminal, 9,000 newhomes, office skyscrapers, hotels and leisure and cultural attractions.

It is feared that that scheme could drain tens of millions of pounds from Southampton and other UK ports, threatening thousands of jobs.

Hampshire MPs, including Eastleigh’s Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, and Romsey and Southampton North’s Caroline Nokes, along with south east England MEPs have lodged written objections to Liverpool’s plans.

City council leader Cllr Royston Smith has vowed to fight to protect jobs against “unfair competition”.

He rejected an offer of “peace talks”

from the leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Joe Anderson, as a publicity stunt.