Liverpool's Cruise Liner Cock Up-What is Southampton's View.

We at the LPT, on this blog, said right from the start, just pay the Cruise Liner European aid money back and we can start running a business that matters and helps the local economy.
The level of journalism at the local press, is alarming and we think needs correcting forthwith.
 There are certain journalists who seem to think they can help Joe Anderson to become Lord Mayor of Liverpool by giving him a platform, to perform, without telling the other side of the story.
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2012/02/16/cunard-to-start-transatlantic-crossings-from-liverpool-cruise-terminal-99623-30338392/
This article by Peter Elson starts

CUNARD Line is set to start transatlantic crossings from Liverpool now the city’s cruise terminal turnaround row is resolved.
It will be the first such sailing in 47 years and a triumphant end to the Post’s Get On Board campaign to allow cruises to start and finish at the Pier Head.
It goes on;  Cllr Joe Anderson, Liverpool Council leader, said: “This is the icing on the cake for allowing turnarounds from Liverpool Cruise Terminal.
“We should celebrate restarting these historic links to America and it builds on what we plan to do.
“I am thrilled about this for our tourist industry and its job prospects. We can even think about direct Liverpool-New York air links to service the fly-cruise market.
“It is the rocket fuel for the future, giving us the opportunity to strengthen our sustainable growth.
“We have also got exploit this through the cruise-and-stay market by expanding our events programme and protecting our heritage.
“It also gives me the opportunity to ask Peel Holdings about developing its planned Liverpool Waters cruise berth.
“We could link the two facilities so two liners could berth at once.”

(It has 7 comments) the articles below have 200 comments combined.


 Sunday February 5th Southampton Echo
LIVERPOOL has been accused of jumping the gun after boasting it had struck a deal with ministers to expand its cruise operation within three months.  http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/southampton/9513207.Liverpool__rocking_the_boat_/
read the comments section


The shock development was revealed by council leader Joe Anderson, who said he was “really excited” about the city becoming a turnaround port – placing it in direct competition with Southampton.
Aside from repaying up to £9.2m to the Government, Liverpool is attempting to write off all of the £8.6m in EU funds it was given to build its £21m Pier Head terminal.
The Merseysiders’ move was branded “arrogant” by a Hampshire MP, who forecast a possible legal challenge from Southampton unless all the cash is paid back.
The Department for Transport insisted it was still waiting for an independent assessment of how much state funding Liverpool should pay back.
But Cllr Anderson, who has just launched a high-profile bid to become the new Mayor of Liverpool, said: “We can now look forward to the big ships returning to the Mersey to start and end cruises.” He also said Liverpool would be able to spread its UK repayments over “a number of years” – based on cruise income.
Southampton council leader Royston Smith said: “It’s nothing more than political posturing. I believe he’s trying to force the
minister’s hand by announcing a deal has been reached when it clearly
hasn’t.”
Southampton’s port boss Doug Morrison, right, said Liverpool’s announcement was “frankly bizarre” and insisted it must pay back all public subsidies for a “level playing field.”
“Full repayment of all the public money, including the European grants, should be a mandatory condition if the Liverpool terminal wants to compete with private investment for the turnaround cruise business,” he said.
Last month, shipping minister Mike Penning rejected Liverpool’s offer to pay back £5.3m of the £9.2m UK grants it received to lift a ban on cruises being allowed to start and finish at its City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal.
He said he would seek independent advice on an appropriate figure, and was clear that turnaround operations would require state aid clearance from the European Commission.
The Commission said it would wait for the UK government’s final decision before its next move. Liverpool believes it is under no legal obligation to repay any of the European funds, and is pressing ahead after claiming a deal with Mr Penning.
New Forest East MP Julian Lewis said he would accept nothing short of total repayment of both grants.
He said: “This shows a degree of arrogance which may well be humbled in the courts.
“It’s a particularly reckless move they may end up regretting.”
Southampton Itchen MP John Denham said: “There is no way a British minister can simply do a deal to
settle this. Our position has still got to be we are not afraid of competition, but it has to be fair competition.”
A Liverpool council spokesman said it was not being “presumptive”, but was “getting the wheels in motion”.
Councillor Anderson said: “We have held talks with the minister and agreed we will pay back any sum decided by the independent panel.”
A Department for Transport spokesman added: “As the shipping minister made clear last month, we are currently seeking independent advice on an appropriate repayment figure, and any decision on whether to lift the restrictions on turnaround operations will be subject to state aid clearance from the European Commission.”


http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9511420.Liverpool_to_launch_turnaround_cruises_within_months__leader_claims/
LIVERPOOL City Council has revealed that it plans to cater for turnaround cruises in three months’ time. Friday 3rd February

The shock announcement was made by council leader Joe Anderson, who said the city would pay back whatever cash is demanded to use it £20m taxpayer funded terminal to start and finish cruises.
The shipping minister last week rejected an offer by Liverpool to repay £5.3m of the taxpayer funding it was granted by the Government to lift the ban.
Independent experts are now advising ministers on how much Liverpool should repay after complaints from Southampton and other ports over unfair competition.
But the latest Liverpool announcement made no mention of the £9m of EU cash that it received to build its Pier Head terminal.
The public handouts were granted on the strict condition the City of Liverpool Cruise Terminal, which opened in 2007, was only used for stop-off cruises.
The audacious move was met with surprise and dismay in Southampton, which has fought Liverpool’s attempts to lift the restrictions on turnaround cruises before paying back all the public subsidy it received.
Councillor Anderson, who has just launched a bid to become the new mayor of Liverpool, claimed to have an agreement with the minister, and told the Liverpool Post: “I am very excited about what will be a new era for us.”
He added: “I expect Liverpool to be so popular for turnarounds we will be developing a second cruise terminal with Peel in its Liverpool Waters plans.
“I want to thank Mr Penning for being so attentive and giving us a fair hearing.
Southampton council leader Royston Smith said: "If he is now prepared to pay the entire public subsidy back then I can only say perhaps he should have offered that in the first place.”
The Department for Transport insisted nothing had changed, saying it was waiting for an independent assessment of how much state funding Liverpool should pay back.
Doug Morrison, ABP port director for Southampton, said repayment of UK funding could not be considered in isolation to the EU funding.
He said: “Our position has been straightforward all along. We have never had an issue with cruises starting and ending in Liverpool, but we believe the cruise industry should be run on a commercial basis and that there is no place for public subsidy of any kind.
"Full repayment of all the public money, including the European grants, should be a mandatory condition if the Liverpool terminal wants to compete with private investment for the turnaround cruise business.”

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