by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Dover District Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to the opposition to Liverpool being allowed to have cruises starting and finishing at the port.

As reported in the Mercury over the last two weeks, there has been growing concern that it would give Liverpool an unfair advantage over other cruise ports because their cruise terminal facility was built with a total of £18 million from the British taxpayer and the European Union.

The money was given on condition that cruise ships would only call at Liverpool during a cruise, and it would not become a turnaround port, with cruises starting and finishing there.

INow, the City Council has applied for that condition to be modified, to allow turnaround visits, a move that is being opposed by various groups included the UK Cruise Ship Alliance, who say it could take business away from other cruise ports including Dover.

“The Dover District Chamber of Commerce has been monitoring developments at the Port of Dover since 1850,” said chamber chief executive David Foley.

“It is manifestly clear that any measure that menaces the growing cruise liner business in Dover will have a negative effect on local suppliers and retailers.

“In responding to the Department for Transport’s consultation, this Chamber supports the UK Cruise Ship Alliance in calling for a rejection of the proposal to allow CLCT to change the condition of its public grant.”

Full story in this week's Dover Mercury.

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