Securing the long-term future of a landing stage facility in Liverpool is at least as important as the user agreement for safeguarding Manx ferry services.
That was the message from Chief Minister Allan Bell in Tynwald as he was pressed on progress on replacing the current life-expired landing stage at Liverpool’s Pier Head.
Mr Bell said the Department of Infrastructure was continuing to discuss options with the authorities in Liverpool but he was unable to give details of cost or timescale. He said if the DoI concluded there is a benefit in it being party to a new landing stage then the matter would be brought back before Tynwald.
Mr Bell said the leasing agreement between Liverpool port and the Steam Packet was also coming to an end and so discussions have to take place. ‘In many ways, securing the long-term future of a landing stage facility in Liverpool is at least as important as the user agreement,’ he said.
Another issue is that Liverpool Council is keen on moving the landing stage further up river to enable the current site to be used for cruise liners.
Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) asked for assurances that we will not end up with some ‘backroom deal’.
Mr Bell replied: ‘There are straightforward discussions. This had got nothing to do with backdoor deals. It is quite clear and open. When that deal is completed, Tynwald will be notified of it. I am sure there will be a debate on it at the time, but it is nonsense to allege already, before the discussions have hardly even started, about backroom deals.’
He added: ‘These will not be easy negotiations. There will be a cost at some point involved in it, but we are in the early stage of these discussions, and Tynwald will be kept informed as things progress.’