South East Ports join forces
A new group has been set up by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to bring together all the main commercial ports in the region with the regional authorities. The facilitation and administration of the South East Regional Ports Group (SERPG) is carried out on behalf of SEEDA by Howard Holt of Marine South East.
The inaugural meeting of the South East Regional Ports Group (SERPG) was held in London in December 2009 and was attended by representatives from almost all the main south east ports, together with SEEDA, the South East England Partnership Board, the Government Office of the South East and by the Department for Transport.
The agenda concentrated on the sharing of information concerning regional policy and strategy affecting ports and transport issues, together with discussion of relevant European projects of interest to the partners. The first meeting also included agenda items on the draft National Policy Statement for Ports, port master-plans, climate change and renewable energy.
Following the success of the first meeting it was decided that the group would continue to meet at approximately six monthly intervals in order to continue the dialogue. With 95% of United Kingdom trade arriving and leaving by sea, together with the employment generated by port clusters, it is important that the contribution of ports in the South East to the regional and national economies is fully appreciated when relevant policies and strategies are formulated. Similarly port authorities are benefiting from better engagement with the regional and government bodies as they respond to the particular challenges that ports now face.
To find out more about this new group email howard.holt@ymail.com
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