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The borough council has pledged to fight a Government decision to snatch prized Assisted Area status from Ellesmere Port and Neston.
The Department of Transport and Industry’s announcement today (10 October) to remove the borough from the new Assisted Area map for the UK means the loss of Tier 2 Assisted Area status, which makes financial support available to companies in the borough.
The borough council had responded to both consultation rounds held earlier this year and along with local MP Andrew Miller met with Minster of State for Trade, Margaret Hodge MP, in London last week to put its case forward.
Regeneration and Economic Development Manager Charles Holmes said: “We are extremely disappointed by the official announcement made by the DTI today and its failure to acknowledge Ellesmere Port and Neston’s needs, but the council still believes the borough has a strong case for inclusion and intends to continue to push its case.
“We plan to carry on working with MP Andrew Miller, who has been of great support, to push our case for inclusion, prior to the map being finalised by the European Commission by the end of the year.”
He added: “If the DTI refuses to allow the borough to be included in the new map all is not lost, as the DTI told us last week that it planned to allocate Tier 3 Assisted Area status to the borough.
“This would allow Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to receive financial support from the Government to help them expand through the purchase of new equipment and creation of new jobs.”
ENDS
Press release issued 11th October 2006
