Talks to take place to form enterprise area at Dumfries and Galloway port

Talks are to take place about forming an enterprise area around a Dumfries and Galloway port.

The council had been hoping to create a green freeport at Cairnryan which was designed to boost economic prospects through low-emission industries and fair practices.

But it opted to abandon the bid after booting out P&O Ferries when they sacked 800 workers – including staff on the Cairnryan to Larne route – as part of plans to use agency workers earning less than the legal minimum wage.

The local authority was still keen to create some sort of economic zone as part of a project called SouthWest Euro Gateway and has written to the Scottish Government seeking support.

Now economy and resources committee chairman Katie Hagmann, deputy Sean Marshall are set to meet the Scottish Government’s green freeports programme director, Alisdair McIntosh.

Councillor Hagmann said: “Despite the council withdrawing from the original green freeport bid at Cairnryan earlier in the year, due to the actions of P&O Ferries, we are still committed to doing all that we can to help the area and local families and workers.

“We recognise that the ports and area around Cairnryan still have huge untapped resources and we will pursue all avenues open to us to utilise that potential and promote the unique selling points of the surrounding area.”

A report for Thursday’s meeting of the economy and resources committee reveals “the benefits and support for the development of economic/cluster zones has yet to be established” but there are a number of advantages for enterprise areas, including rates relief, streamlined planning processes and support from Skills Development Scotland.