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Cruise terminal for East Lothian 'doomed to fail' councillors told

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date28 June 2022
East Lothian Council is to write to Forth Ports asking if they have any interest in joining forces with the local authority to build a port at the coastal site

However a council meeting today heard the company, which is harbour master for the Firth of Forth, has already revealed plans to invest millions in an additional berth in Leith.

And Councillor Lachlan Bruce, ward member covering the power station land, said he did not expect the company to support a Cockenzie terminal.

Speaking to the virtual meeting Mr Bruce said: "Any attempt to create a cruise terminal is doomed to fail without Forth Ports explicit support and backing."

Councillors agreed to ask the council's chief executive Monica Patterson to write to Forth Ports seeking a formal position from them.

A report to councillors said any port which was created in competition to Forth Ports would not be 'viable.'

The meeting heard there are two community backed projects being investigated for part of the site, which is owned by the council.

One is the possibility of a cruise terminal or port at the site with the other a bid to create a National Centre for Climate Change, known as the 360 Centre, which is still at the feasibility study stage.

The report said knowing where the council stood on both projects would allow elected members to make a decision on the future of the site moving forward.

Councillors revealed they had been contacted by the 360 Centre raising concerns about a decision to write to Forth Ports claiming they were "being side-lined."

Councillor Colin Yorkston said: "The 360 Centre has expressed concern they were being side-lined and that there has been a lack of engagement.

"They asked that we do not take any other action until their feasibility study has been completed."

And Councillor Shona McIntosh questioned why the cruise terminal was on the...

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