The Burnham-On-Sea area could be set to benefit from a bid to develop a new ‘Great Western Freeport’ business zone which aims to generate thousands of new jobs.
The proposals to create a free port zone has been submitted to government and, if accepted, the Great Western Freeport will create a customs area at Royal Portbury and Avonmouth Docks near Bristol where products can be shipped in without paying a tariff plus new tax sites at the Gravity Campus at M5 Junction 23 near Burnham-On-Sea (pictured) and Severnside.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is leading the bid after the Government announced plans to create 10 free ports across the UK using £200m in seed funding.
The Port of Felixstowe is a major part of the Freeport East bid
- Credit: Adam Boughey
A tax-free port in East Anglia could be the “silver bullet” the region’s economy needs to close the gap on the rest of the country, according to man behind the project.
It is estimated that a freeport in the East would create 13,500 jobs and secure up to £650million of investment for the region.
Freeports are exempt from import taxes on goods coming into the area which are not destined for the UK – effectively treating the area covered by the freeport as if it is not part of the country for tax purposes.
Arklow Newbuild On Sea Trials While Another Fleetmate Dry Docks After Short Hop from Avonmouth
4th February 2021
Latest development of the new Arklow Arrow, a 8,500dwt trader, which is carrying out a series of shipbuilders sea trials in Wadden Sea off the Dutch and German coast. AFLOAT adds in tracking some other ASL ships, this led to the classic cruiseship (former liner) Marco Polo which served cruisegoers directly from Belfast and regularly called to Irish Ports - has gone to the breakers!
Credit: Ferus Smit-Instagram
Arklow Shipping, operators of a fleet of dry-cargo short-sea traders and deep-sea ocean going bulkers, is where Afloat catches up with a sample of their ships in waters much closer to home,
A section of higher flood defences along New Passage Road near Aust were finished last week. The new earth embankment represents the first part of the £80 million Avonmouth and Severnside Enterprise Area Ecology Mitigation and Flood Defence Project to improve flood defences and enhance the natural environment on the River Severn. When South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) approved this part of the scheme last year they committed to replacing the Poplars with broadleaf trees and planting new hedgerows. SGC are working with Bristol City Council, the Environment Agency and West of England Combined Authority to deliver the project, which will stretch 17km from Aust cliffs to Avonmouth docks when finished.