FREEPORT STATUS GRANTED ONLY DAYS AFTER BRIGG MEETING HEARS OF BID

Brigg Town Council's latest meeting heard that a bid had been submitted for Humber Freeport status which, if achieved, would boost the local economy and create jobs.
Coun Rob Waltham, as the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, gave fellow Brigg town councillors brief details as he ran through a list of other topics.
As many bids for Government support can take months to be decided, Brigg Blog (and probably many others) thought it might be a long time before anything further was heard of Humber Freeport status.
So it was very surprising when, just a few days after Brigg Town Council was told about this initiative, it was given the green light... as part of the Budget delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, no less!
North Lincolnshire Council immediately forecast that Humber Freeport status would create thousands of well-paid, sustainable jobs.
Freeports are special economic zones with different rules to make it easier and cheaper to do business. They include infrastructure planning, customs and favourable duties and taxes.
Following the Budget announcement, Coun Waltham said: “I am delighted that we have been selected as one area in only eight across the country to be awarded freeport status. This will make North Lincolnshire a global gateway for trade and investment.
“We have worked hard with the area’s MPs and businesses to deliver this for the area and it is a fantastic show of confidence in North Lincolnshire and its people.
“This will help us recover and renew by delivering sustainable well-paid jobs and attract more wealth-creators to the region.”
Brigg & Goole MP Andrew Percy detailed how this area will benefit, as follows:
Scunthorpe Steel Works Freeport Site: A 'customs' site will be created at Scunthorpe Steel Works as part of the Humber Freeport: Slightly different incentives, but again great for new investment and for the steel industry.
Offshore Wind Investment: The Government is going to provide tens of millions of pounds towards a £250 million investment in a new quay on the Humber to expand offshore wind manufacturing. Again, this could be thousands of new jobs.
North Lincs Freeport Site: The new quay at Killingholme will be a 'tax' site as part of the Humber Freeport.
Scunthorpe Town Deal: The Conservative Government is to provide £20 million for the Scunthorpe Town Deal. This will fund a range of investments to regenerate the town.
The MP described these specific announcements for the Humber region as fantastic.
"Locally, MPs have worked together with the local Councils to raise the profile of Northern Lincs and East Yorkshire and secure these investments," he said.

PICTURED: Brigg welcomes regional Freeport status acclaimed by Coun Waltham (top left) and Andrew Percy MP.