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News

Poole Cherbourg Links Strengthened

A business delegation comprising of Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC), the Borough of Poole and Dorset Business visited Cherbourg and St Lo in France on Monday 6 March with the aim of strengthening the links between Poole and Cherbourg. 

The visit comes shortly after the completion of the deepening of the main shipping channel in Poole Harbour providing 7.5 metres depth, enabling larger ships to utilise the port.  With the future replacement of the Brittany Ferries ship, the MV Coutances, Poole Harbour Commissioners are keen to build relationships with Cherbourg with a view to securing further port activity and trade.

The delegation met with President of the General Council, Senator Jean-Francois Legrand (Conseil General), the Mayor of Cherbourg, M. Bernard Cazeneuve, his Deputy, M. Magalhaes,  M. Giguet of Brittany Ferries and M. Jean-Claude Camus, President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Cherbourg Cotentin and their executive teams.

Reflecting on the visit, Jim Stewart, PHC Chief Executive and Dorset Business President, said: "The Commissioners and I were delighted to hear that there is strong support for the ferry link between Cherbourg and Poole, and I have been given more confidence that the MV Cotentin, the replacement for the MV Coutances, will operate on this route.  We are also encouraged by the interest shown by our partners in Cherbourg in working more closely with Dorset Business and the Borough of Poole to further the economic and commercial development of the two areas. We warmly welcomed the solidarity shown by the Borough of Poole and hope that relationships with Cherbourg will go from strength-to-strength."

Cllr Brian Leverett, Leader of Poole Council, said: "The visit was an excellent opportunity for my colleagues and I to underline the economic importance of the ferry link with Cherbourg and explore the possibility of closer working with our counterparts in Lower Normandy.  We have invited the Mayor of Cherbourg and the President of the Cherbourg Chamber to visit Poole in June and we look forward to a similarly productive meeting then."

Peter Wheelhouse, Economic Development Manager, Borough of Poole tel 01202 633032