Cunard quashes Mersey rumours (From Daily Echo)

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  MerseyMart wrote:
  

  phil maccavity wrote:
  The argument all comes down to this. Liverpool was provided with grants for £17m specifically for a calling cruise facility. All other UK ports were basically Ok with this as it complemented rather than adversely affected their existing cruise business. The money would not have been given if turnrounds had been mentioned AND LIVERPOOL COUNCIL KNEW THIS. Within a very short time span LCC had approached the, then, Labour Govt (who had initially granted the UK cash) for permission to change the terms of the grant. This was rightly refused. They tried again under the Tory regime and got a provisional thumbs up which has been challenged by other UK cruise ports (led by Soton) none of whom have been able to use public money for their facilities and are crying foul. Liverpool have offered to pay back part/all of the £7m grant but ONLY IF THE CRUISE SHIPS CALL. Bearing in mind the original business case for the £17m calling cruise terminal hasd proved to be rather 'creative' to say the least, LCC are not really playing by the normal business rules Oh and, of course, there is the attrempt to get Portsmouth as a 'major south coast cruise port' to support the initial application for a change of use. Interestingly they are now against the idea as it could potentially harm their own trade. No one is against Liverpool having a nice, shiny cruise terminal but only if it is provided on the same risk based financial terms as applies elsewhere in the UK

  No Phil, the argument comes down to this. Liverpool has received public money certainly but that money has not given the port any advantage over Southampton, it has merely removed a disadvantage. Since when did liners at Soton have to tie up in mid-river and be served by tender vessels?
  
  Had we been given a new terminal free of charge, then your claims would have some justification - but we don't have a new terminal at present and, as you have rightly pointed out, when we do get it it will most likely be a marquee - in the short term at least.
  
  Are you really expecting us to believe that Liverpool signed up to an agreement that IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES would they apply for turnaround facilities? (In other words, they would have to build a completely new terminal should they want to develop turnarounds).
  
  Repaying the grant money as and when cruise ships make use of the turnaround facilities makes total sense. If cruise companies don't want to use Liverpool for turnarounds, then the terms of the initial agreement would not have been compromised.
  
  Also, the claim that Southampton has not been given public money for their facilities beggars belief. We have identified some £60m of public investment in road and rail infrastructure that has directly benefited the port of Southampton and enabled it to compete well into Liverpool's hinterland.
  
  Surely the question you should be asking about Portsmouth is why they supported Liverpool - have they had similar experiences with Soton?

  Merseymart in the beginning this was all started by a Liberal run Liverpool council,Portsmouth is a Liberal run council I guess the reason they backed this idea was down to that fact & by doing so they were hoping to keep control of Liverpool & win the seat in the general election.
  Once they didn't win the seat & lost control of the council they withdrew their support.
  If they had come to this city & talked to it's council & ABP who knows maybe this could have been sorted & been beneficial to both cities we will never know now.
  Could you find a home for Southy? I don't know if you want him spouting TUSC propaganda in your paper or slagging down your city as he does ours"
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