Support for developing a £300m deep water facility at Teesport is pledged today by the Association of North-east Councils. The association is relaunching itself after breaking away from the North East Assembly. It now aims to provide a strong, regional voice for the North-east's 25 local authorities. Among its pledges revealed in its manifesto today was to back development of the region's port facilities. PD Ports wants to build a £300m deep water facility at Teesport which could lead to the creation of 7,000 jobs. The association was launching its new manifesto at an event in Gateshead attended by local government minister David Miliband. The manifesto urges the Government to "fast track a National Ports Strategy to identify where best to allow the increase in port capacity in advance of it taking critical decisions on the expansion of the South-east ports". Martyn Pellew, group development director at PD Ports, said the company was delighted the 25 councils in the North-east were supporting the proposal to have a deep sea container terminal on the Tees. Mr Pellew said: "It is just what we need." He said the association's commitment to the deep water facility on the Tees would be used in lobbying at next week's Labour Party's conference in Brighton. The association is also backing Grand Central's plans to provide a new rail service to London from Sunderland. It would also stop at Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton and Thirsk. And Grand Central MD Ian Yeowart said consideration was also being given to the service stopping at Stockton. "We welcome the support from the association. We have been amazed at the level of support we have had from across the North-east. We are hopeful of a decision early next year." Councillor Mick Henry, Association chairman, said: "The association is committed to working with the business community." * For an archive of stories on this subject log on to www.icteesside.co.uk/pdports | 
