Metro Mayor contender vows to unlock potential of Liverpool2

Luciana Berger MP, a contender for the position of Liverpool’s new Metro Mayor, has vowed to not let the city region become “second tier”.

Visiting the new Liverpool2 container terminal at the Port of Liverpool, Ms Berger vowed to unlock the facility’s potential and boost the city region’s economy.

Speaking on Wednesday (July 27), she said: “With our fantastic new container terminal, it is time to recognise that our future is as a global city region.

“We should judge ourselves not just against Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham or London, but the leading city regions of the world.”

Once Liverpool2 is fully operational, it will be the only container terminal on Britain’s west coast with the ability to handle the world’s largest container vessels as they traverse the newly enlarged Panama Canal.

Peel Ports, the site’s operator, hopes Liverpool2 will become an international asset, shifting the current economic imbalance that sees more than 90% of imports enter the country through ports in the South East.

In her visit to Liverpool2, Ms Berger highlighted the need for the Port of Liverpool to be connected to a rail line capable of transporting the additional freight tonnage generated.

Ms Berger continued: “High Speed 2 is about much more than shaving a few minutes off the travelling time between the North and South.

“It would move people off the existing rail network and allow it to take on increased freight needs of the Port of Liverpool. I have campaigned to make the case for HS2 to come 20 miles more to our region. I will not rest until we start high speed rail travel here in the Liverpool City Region.”

Liverpool2 gives the city region a “massive opportunity” to “face outward to the world”, according to Ms Berger, who also said the scheme will create new highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships.

Peel Ports’ group planning director, Warren Marshall, commented: “We were delighted to host a visit by Luciana and welcome her interest in our Liverpool2 project, recognising its importance as a key cargo gateway in a competitive global environment.

“We were able to showcase the extent of our on-going investments in the region of £750m, adding to the UK’s trading infrastructure, contributing to the Northern Powerhouse initiative and providing job opportunities throughout the Liverpool City Region.”

He added: “Improved transport connections by both road and rail are critical to the on-going success of the Port in being able to move freight with greater reliability. The creation of new rail freight capability as part of HS2 and HS3 would be welcomed.”

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