Torridge & West Devon’s MP Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC, has convened a high level meeting this morning at 10 Downing Street with the Government’s Taskforce dedicated to reopening Appledore Shipyard.
The taskforce led by the Chairman of the SW Business Council, Tim Jones has been working with the MP since the disappointing withdrawal of Babcocks and the closure of the Yard in March this year to secure new owners and to provide the Yard with a stable future. The MP, who has met potential owners and new customers to secure their support for the Yard over recent months has said that he is now “cautiously optimistic” about its future particularly now that the Government has announced its intention to revive British shipbuilding.
The meeting heard from the MP of the shipbuilding heritage and of the unique community that surrounds the Yard and its iconic importance within the local economy.
Geoffrey Cox said, “this crucial meeting gathered ministers and officials from No.10, and other Government departments to review the significant progress made to date and to put in place the final measures and help that the Taskforce has requested to enable its plans for the Yard to reach fruition.
The Prime Minister made clear today his personal commitment to reopening Appledore Shipyard and has assured the Taskforce that the necessary help will be given. This commitment has supercharged the process as we near the critical stages and I am therefore very hopeful that our months of work will lead to the reopening of Appledore Shipyard in the near future.”
