Press Releases - ABLE

ABLE PLEDGES TO APPEAL OVER TERRC PLANS REFUSAL
12/10/06

The Chairman of Able UK says that ‘it is in the interests of Hartlepool, the wider Teesside area—and indeed the UK as a whole—that we do not miss the opportunity to establish our area as a centre of excellence for marine recycling technology and the development of wind power.’

Mr Peter Stephenson, speaking after members of Hartlepool Council’s Planning Committee today refused applications for the development of the company’s TERRC (Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre) facility at Graythorp, made it clear that the company would be lodging an appeal.

The plans would extend the uses of the facility to allow for the construction, repair, refurbishment and decommissioning of ships, vessels and other craft and the manufacture of wind turbines. The company also wants to carry out improvements at TERRC including the construction and refurbishment of quays, the building of a cofferdam and installation of new dock gates.

Said Mr Stephenson “Obviously we are very disappointed that as a result of today’s decision we face a further delay in our plans for making full use of the potential for TERRC which is undoubtedly one of the best sites in Europe to meet the growing demand for environmentally acceptable facilities for marine recycling, whether ships or other structures such as oil & gas platforms.

“What should be remembered is that the Council’s own officers, as well bodies such as the Hartlepool Economic Forum, have stressed that this facility offers an opportunity to develop a world-class centre for an industry which is set to expand rapidly in the years ahead. We have the facilities, the skills and expertise to undertake this work—and it is an industry which the UK Government has made clear it wants to see established in the UK.

“We have been involved in the decommissioning of oil and gas platforms at TERRC for many years— and only a few days ago it was announced by BP that we have been awarded the contract to handling the work of dismantling and recycling the large North West Hutton topside & jacket. We want to use the high level of expertise we have developed in the company in both marine and land recycling in dealing with ships which, it should be pointed out, pose just the same challenges as dealing with oil and gas platforms.

“We will clearly have to consider the issues very carefully after the outcome of today’s meeting but one thing is clear…we will be lodging an appeal. There is a desperate need for world-class ship recycling facilities in the UK and the rest of Europe and there is overwhelming evidence that our facility can—and should—be developed to meet that need.”

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