Energy Industry and its opportunities
Posted by Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, at 11:24, Thu 11 November 2010:
Nick Clegg confirms government support for renewable energy investment.
Following the devastating news that container operations have been suspended at East Port in Great Yarmouth; it is vital that the area benefits from the new renewable energy industry. The day after this shock announcement from the harbour operators, East Port, spurred me to seek a reassurance that East Anglia will be on a level playing field with more deprived areas in the North-East when it comes to securing investment.
David Cameron is away on an official trip to China, so Nick Clegg was standing in at Prime Minister’s Questions, when I tackled him on this point. He recognises that green energy has the potential to regenerate many areas in Britain and provide an enormous economic boost. The new green investment bank being set up by the government will help us take advantage of this second energy boom.
I put a question at PMQ this week:
Prime Minister’s Question Time – 10th October 2010
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth): My right hon. Friend might be aware of the great work being done by the East of England Energy Group, and by the borough councils, the county council and local small companies in Norfolk to ensure that Great Yarmouth and East Anglia benefit from economic growth and regeneration through the energy markets. Will he and the Government support our work to ensure that East Anglia gets a fair and even chance to bid for the opportunities that these new markets can provide?
Nick Clegg (The Deputy Prime Minister): I strongly agree with my hon. Friend that renewable energy is one of the great industries of the future, and we are doing everything we can to support those areas that want to exploit the opportunities. We have committed £1.4 billion to a regional growth fund, and we are establishing a green investment bank with the explicit aim of creating further investment opportunities in green infrastructure in areas where private sector investment is currently constrained. I am delighted to hear about the way in which councils, businesses and the not-for-profit sector in Norfolk are working so effectively together.
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Posted by John L Cooper, 11:58, Thu 11 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
For two years five months we have been trying to bring to light the appalling mess those that should have been acting in our, (the ratepayers), interest. Two years ago we complained that Containers would not be bring jobs like ferry services would. We were told ferries were a dead loss, containers are the way forward.
In the mean time Harwich signed up a Ferry deal with Stena, and a new Container service started up, the East Coast Triangle, two of the three container ships have been in the inner harbour before, so what went wrong there?
The £18 million in Grants was to build a harbour suitable for all ships. When the Arklow had to vacate the outer harbour Mr Freeman said the Harbour was not built for small ships. This week the 18000 ton Draco could not stay safely in the outer harbour, she found it safer to drop anchor in the Yarmouth Roads.
Now we are told by the MD of GYBC that the large container cranes are to leave because of the depressed container market. With the supposed depressed ferry market, we have to wonder why we gave IPH our £18 million in grants and why did we gift them our successful inner port?
If there is such a problem with the harbour design how can the same people that brought about this disappointing result be believed when they talk of Decommissioning and Wind Farm work. Lowestoft and Harwich are already leaps and bounds in front of us. I liken you politicians to my little Yorky Dog, she stands looking in her toy basket, "What shall I play with today,will I play with a Fluffy Ferry or my Squeeky Container or will it be my Chewy Windmill. The truth will hurt you but it is the only way to progress.
Today is a sad day for Eddie Freeman, also for the many businesses that had hopes of increasing their business, I feel for the Ratepayers of Norfolk paying for Gt. Yarmouth quay repairs and upkeep of Haven Bridge.
I have no sympathy for those in NCC GYBC and GYPA who through their mismanagement in dealing with IPH are the root of all the problems, and I defy any of them to prove me wrong.
Posted by Steve Taylor, 13:21, Thu 11 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Brandon,
Could I seek assurances from your office, that any such deals for the renewable sector are both open and visable to public scutiny?
Posted by Kim Hastings, 14:40, Thu 11 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Mr. Lewis. You obviously don't need telling that the outer harbour was, is and always will be a sham. There are enough people making that very valid point. As has been pointed out to you, Lowestoft is already way ahead of Gt. Yarmouth when it comes to facilities for the wind power industry so please don't even think about it. The old SLP yard (now part of Smulders Group)is perfectly placed to manufacture and deliver offshore wind turbines. Great Yarmouth has nothing so don't waste your time and my money on that one. So in the interests of progress let me concentrate on your latest battle cry, Decommissioning! Other than talk about it with your mates at Eeegr or whatever they are called what has actually been done to make decommissioning a reality? I suspect nothing. All talk no action. As I mentioned in previous responses to you, I work in the oil and gas industry which by the way is in the real world. If you take a look at the way the North Sea has been divided up you will see that the biggest area is devoted to this fair but crumbling Isle of ours. You will further notice that the smallest area is devoted to The Netherlands. While you and your best buds at Eeegr sit around a very nice table in a clean office congratulating yourselves on what a marvelous idea decommissioning is, the Dutch in the form of a company called Allseas are currently building the Pieter Schelte, a purpose built decommissioning vessel due to go into service in 2014. Follow the link to see where we should be right now. http://www.allseas.com/uk/19/equipment/pieter-schelte.html
So the country with the smallest area of the North Sea is already years ahead of the country with the biggest area. Who do you think is best positioned to reap the rewards of decommissioning? Or do you need a map? You didn't listen when we told you the outer harbour was 30 years too late. Mr Lewis I beg that you listen now. YOU ARE TOO LATE !! AGAIN !!
Posted by Kim Hastings, 14:44, Thu 11 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
By the way did Nick Clegg answer yes or no to your question. I can't see that anywhere in his reply
Posted by Kim Hastings, 14:45, Thu 11 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
One other thing. How do you suspend container operations that never actually started ??
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 07:22, Fri 12 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for taking the time to reply Kim, I am sorry you are feeling so negative about Great Yarmouth and its chances to develop. I am afraid I may agree with you that in so many areas we are playing catch up, part of my job is to now try and help our area make that time up but i do disagree that we should not try. It is an area of business that could create a huge number of jobs for Great Yarmouth and the industry is working hard in that regard and I am hopeful of some positive news on that soon, but time will tell which of us is right. John, thank you for your post and with regard to Eastport, at present it is hard to argue with your view of their recent management. I do actually agree with them in their refocus on the energy market, just not on how they have gone about it.
Posted by Kim Hastings, 11:30, Fri 12 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Give me something positive and I'm all ears. Great Yarmouth is so slow to react to anything. We have had numerous oppotunities all of which have been talked about but nothing else. I would appreciate your thoughts on the Dutch action regarding the Pieter Schelte and just what we in this area and the UK as a whole have actually done to secure our fair share of the decommissioning business? Or do I have to keep travelling to Holland 10 - 12 times a year? By the way I will be in Germany for the next couple of weeks so may be a little slow in responding. Such a shame there is so little work here !!
Posted by Steve Taylor, 19:30, Mon 15 November 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Hi Brandon
Approval to close the road around the harbours mouth was based upon the then Eastport business plan to create a secure custom and excise area for the container business. That plan has now changed, what steps do you suggest I follow to have this long used public amenity re-opened as the original requirement no longer exists?
Thanks
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 18:13, Wed 1 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
Steve, this query does not relate to the topic, but i will answer it under the Outer Harbour topic.
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 17:23, Wed 8 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
I had a debate on Energy in East Anglia at the House of Commons this week. I will post a YouTube link soon but for now the debate can be read here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/whall/?id=2010-12-07a.60.1&s=speaker%3A24879#g60.2
Posted by Brandon Lewis, 16:06, Thu 9 December 2010: (Is this post abusive?) #
YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQlRurK5Gds