With news today the Government might look to Halton Borough Council for some cash should the freight and logistics park they are developing together with Stobart and Prologis called ‘3MG’ (stands for Multi Modal Gateway and there’s three of them responsible for it – surely 3 MMG or 2MG) fail to live up to expectations it’s time to consider the ramifications.
Firstly Mr Nick ‘I want to be popular’ Clegg announced last month that the Government’s Regional Growth Fund was to put up nine million quid to assist development of the project (so hang on – surely that’s 4MG, or as it’s partly our money 62,300003MG or thereabouts).
Last year we had the pleasure of visiting the new port at London Gateway on the Thames being developed by DP World, and very impressive it is too. We also had the pleasure of speaking with Nick’s old buddy Vince Cable who was delighted to tell the assembled company that the scheme would create up to 6,500 jobs.
Now apparently noises are being made that we (I use the phrase loosely) want our cash back from the Halton Council if the scheme doesn’t result in the predicted 2,700 plus jobs (Stobart’s website says 5000+, Prologis don’t even seem to call it 3MG).
Well Mr Clegg and Co. the Captain has a word of advice about this.
These are not jobs being created.
To create a job, one has to implement something which is entirely new i.e. in our game (UK plc export division) make something new.
These are exactly the same as other jobs created, what they mean to say is transferred.
Nooo my Liberal buddies, sorry to tell you but if you genuinely couldn’t work out this particular equation then, put simply, you’re too thick to be in Politics.
I’m sure however that isn’t the case, I’m sure this is just the usual duplicitous double shuffle with Nick warming the assorted cockles of unemployed hearts in Widnes without the onerous task of telling anyone else, particularly neighbouring Liverpool or even his own lovely Sheffield exactly where these jobs would emanate from just as Vince, who represents Twickenham, won’t have to explain to dockers in Felixstowe and Southampton why they might get laid off.
So good luck with that Nick, the chances of you bowling up to Halton in eighteen months with cap in hand to explain why you were going to cause local rates to rise?
If you live there I wouldn’t lose any sleep.
Incidentally, as we in the UK HSG office are all Essex and East London boys and girls this isn’t having a go at Stobart.
Yes. That’s the new rail station at Southend Airport (Sorry, LONDON – Southend airport, after all it’s only 40 miles away)
The development at Southend Airport and associated rail station WILL create jobs simply by opening up new opportunities and enticing more business into the UK as well as out, so hats off, when the development started we (that is the Handy Shipping Guide), like many others thought it might be a poorly disguised extension of the groups freight services entirely unsuitable to the local area.
What we actually have is the possibility with those true entrepreneurs who run cheap flights and associated businesses to provide new opportunities – and all in time for the Olympics!




