Port Rates Update

Mersey Maritime has welcomed the government’s decision to scrap backdated port rates, ending 18 months of uncertainty for more than 70 businesses in Liverpool.

Chancellor George Osborne yesterday made good on his promise to abolish the rates previously levied on port side operators in his emergency Budget speech. Port companies in the city had been facing backdated business rates bills that stretched into the millions and put up to 3,000 jobs under threat.

David Pendleton, business development director at Mersey Maritime, told Insider: “It’s been a commitment from the coalition government from day one and we’re delighted they’ve stuck to their promise. It takes an awful lot of pressure off businesses in Liverpool that were faced with the bills.”

However, the decision follows news that the Port of Liverpool reported a 7 per cent drop in freight traffic last year, according to the Department for Transport. It handled 29.89 million tonnes, down from 32.2 million in 2008.