WORKINGTON could be an ‘ideal candidate’ for major investment under a future Labour government - that was the message of former Labour leader and shadow energy security and net zero secretary Ed Miliband when he visited the town last week.
The shadow minister also said that Cumbria’s history and presence around nuclear and geography of the area give it a ‘huge opportunity’ to be a ‘clean energy superpower’ of the future.
Mr Miliband was taken on a tour of the Port of Workington, accompanied by Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer, Workington and Whitehaven candidate Josh MacAlister and Penrith and Solway candidate Markus Campbell-Savours to look at how the port may benefit from the investment.
Labour has committed to a £1.8billion scheme to upgrade Britain’s port infrastructure, with Workington being said to be an ‘ideal candidate’ for a piece of the pie.
Speaking to the Times & Star, Mr Miliband said: “I am so excited to be here, we have had fantastic conversations, fantastic ideas and I think people in Cumbria for too long have been denied the good jobs and good wages that they want to see and that they deserve.
“There is a huge opportunity with clean energy. We have seen it the world over - I firmly believe Cumbria can be a clean energy superpower and we are determined to work with the people of Cumbria to make it happen.
“The Port of Workington where we are now is an ideal candidate in my view for that kind of investment, Josh MacAlister the Labour Party parliamentary candidate has been incredibly visionary about this, Mark Fryer the leader of Cumberland council also visionary about what can be done.”
During the visit to the council-owned municipal port, which handles up to 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year, Mr Miliband heard about the council’s plans for the port including 'the drive to secure inward investment, develop the facilities and capacity and significantly improve the multi-modal transport opportunities at the site'.
He also heard how the Port is 'well placed' to benefit from wider economic developments in Cumbria, especially in the energy sector, as it already has an established presence in this market through its position in the nuclear supply chain at Sellafield, as well as in offshore renewables.
When asked why he saw Cumbria as such a candidate to be a clean energy superpower, Mr Miliband said: “It’s got the history and the presence around nuclear but also you just need to look out to sea and see the offshore wind turbines.
“I think it’s got the geography, it’s got the expertise, it has got the commitment from the council and others, and it needs a government that will match that commitment and that’s what I want a Labour government to do.”
Mr MacAlister said: “Major expansion of the Port of Workington is central to my industrial plan for West Cumbria because it opens up the potential for new industry and thousands of jobs.
"“I’ve been working with Ed Miliband to make the case for inclusion of Workington in the £1.8billion Port investment programme promised by the next Labour Government and today I was delighted to welcome him to the Port, along with Cllr Mark Fryer, to see its potential.
“Ed confirmed that Workington is in a prime position to benefit from this investment and I look forward to working with him and Cumberland Council if I’m elected to deliver it.”
Cllr Mark Fryer, leader of Cumberland Council said: “We will continue to strive to make the Port of Workington the most sustainable port possible. We believe that the port is a key logistics asset for Cumberland, and we are keen to attract investment to provide facilities for future green growth across our region.
"We will continue to provide a first-class service to our customers at the port, whilst strengthening our competitive position in the region and beyond.”
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has said that the Conservative government is already 'ploughing' £17million into the area and other projects opening access to the facility.
He said: "He talked about the Port of Workington, without mentioning the £17million this Conservative government is ploughing into the port, Oldside, and into projects based around opening up access – plus the tens, if not hundreds, of millions of pounds going into the Cumbrian Coast Railway Line upgrades, partly to serve the port."
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