20.07.2005

Port of London Authority welcomes London Gateway announcement

The Port of London Authority has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it is minded to approve the proposals for the London Gateway port which includes the new container and roro facilities at the former Shellhaven oil refinery site on the Thames.

Commenting, Port of London Authority chief executive Richard Everitt said:

“The London Gateway scheme will be a major contribution to meeting the requirement for increased container capacity in the UK. It will also see the regeneration of a ‘brown field’ former industrial site. It ensures this existing deep-water facility on the Thames is not lost to port use.

“The Port of London Authority now needs to study the detail of the Secretary of State’s letter carefully, and will continue to work closely with other parties to facilitate the project, taking into account the interests of stakeholders including river users and the port community.”

For further information contact: Martin Garside, Port of London Authority (Tel: 020 7743 7915. Mobile 07736 362385).

Note to Editors:
The Port of London Authority is the port authority for 150km (95 miles) of the tidal Thames from the sea to Teddington. It provides navigational, pilotage and other services for ships using the Port of London. London is currently one of the top three ports in the UK and handles over 50 million tonnes of cargo each year. The Port of London comprises over 70 independently owned and operated terminals and port facilities, which handle a wide range of cargoes.