Peter Nears of Peel Holdings backs The Mersey Gateway

Jun 18 2009 by Mark Smith, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

TRANSPORT and property giant Peel Holdings has thrown its weight behind the project.

The firm – which operates Liverpool John Lennon Airport and the Manchester Ship Canal – backed the scheme in a letter to the public inquiry last week.

Peter Nears (pictured), strategic planning director for the firm, wrote in the letter that the scheme was of ‘great strategic importance’ to the North West.

He said: “The Mersey Gateway bridge will greatly enhance the region’s road network, cut congestion at a critical crossing point of the river Mersey and improve accessibility across Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.”

The letter to the inspector also set out Peel Holdings’ plans for investing in its key facilities across the region.

Plans included:

An airport “master plan” that shows employment levels at John Lennon Airport and related employers tripling by 2030

Significant growth projected at the Port of Liverpool

Development of the Liverpool SuperPort.