Boss sails into ports debate.

Byline: Helen Logan

A regional development agency chief has nailed her colours to the mast over pounds 300m port expansion plans on Teesside.

Margaret Fay, who chairs One NorthEast, was speaking at the Tees Valley annual dinner of the Conferation of British Industry.

She said a recent survey of CBI members revealed that the North-east, more than any other region in England and Scotland, was using its ports and airports for the transport of sales and purchases.

Mrs Fay said: "These findings certainly reinforce the significance of Teesport to the North-east. One NorthEast recognises this and that's why we are fully behind the port's expansion plans.

"The creation of a deep sea container terminal at Teesport could deliver 600 direct jobs and 7,000 indirect jobs over the next five years, equivalent to 50pc of current unemployment in the Tees Valley.

"We have been lobbying the Government to develop ports like Teesport rather than placing further pressure on the South Eastern ports and the transport infrastructure around these."

PD Ports has applied for planning permission to build the terminal.

The submission has yet to be considered by Redcar and Cleveland Council.

But recently it emerged that a Government ports policy review which is under way has initially favoured port development in the South. However, PD Ports bosses are determined to press ahead with its plans in spite of this.

They argue the Government document was "the beginning of the consultation process, not the end".

The dinner's other keynote speaker was shadow secretary of state for trade and industry Alan Duncan.

He spoke of the importance of developing renewable technologies when it comes to power generation.

For an archive of stories on this subject, visit www.gazettelive.co.uk/ports