Liverpool cruise terminal wins battle with Southampton
Southampton says it will fight yesterday’s move by the European Union to grant the public funding of Liverpool’s £21 million cruise terminal.
The terminal, which was completed in 2007, was built using £9.2 million of British taxpayers’ money and £8.6 million of EU grants, which was topped up with private funding.
Liverpool paid back £8.8 million to the British government after it was granted permission to host turnaround cruises, putting it in direct competition with Southampton and other UK ports.
However, Southampton had argued that it should hand back all of the state-aid used to build the new terminal.
In a ruling announced last night, the EU said both subsidies met its transport policy objectives "without unduly distorting competition".
Southampton MP John Denham said he would challenge the ruling, adding that the city was looking for "a level playing field" between Liverpool and other UK ports.
A record 46 ships will call at Liverpool this year, including several turnaround cruises, which start and end their voyages in the city
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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