Red tape hampers UK ports, says ex-minister

26 February 2008 15:54  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--A former UK shipping minister on Tuesday attacked the “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) mentality for preventing the development of much needed port infrastructure in the UK, dubbing planning procedures “protracted, burdensome and expensive”.

The present government needed to streamline planning and lighten the regulatory burden on port operators, said Dr Stephen Ladyman at the UK Ports Policy Conference here, adding that opening a port in the country cost operators three times as much as on the continent.

The UK ports infrastructure was more expensive and less efficient than those of its European competitors, he added.

Meanwhile, capacity was tight, which had created a “seller’s market” and was therefore set to see further price rises, Ladyman said.

Port operators were being asked to contribute "too much" to infrastructure, with many major ports not even connected to the strategic road network, he added.

The conference is run by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and ends today.

By: Nick Savvides
+44 20 8652 3214

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