THE Government has threatened to claw back a £17m grant used to build Liverpool’s waterfront cruise liner facility.

The Department for Transport (DfT) may ask for the cash to be returned if the city goes ahead with a plan to introduce Customs and baggage-handling services at the facility.

Peel Ports last night revealed it had been willing to relocate its own rival facilities from dismal Langton Dock to the landing stage at Princes Dock, and says this plan was initially given approval from the DfT. But Peel Ports property manager Ian Pollitt said: “We thought we had got the nod and then they suddenly changed their mind. It was very disappointing.”

Baggage handling and Customs facilities would enable cruise lines to start and finish cruises at Princes Dock, potentially leading to a huge surge in passenger numbers.

Currently, cruise lines can only use Liverpool for day visits.

When the £17m was offered in 2005, the then deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, said it was “vital to the local economy that Liverpool capitalised on its waterfront.”

Peel also says it will create another fully-funded first-class cruise berth with reception amenities as part of its long-term plan to develop the docklands.

Mr Pollitt said: “In the city we are united. We know the facilities at Langton Dock are not good enough and have looked at various ways of countering this, including using the airport.

“The best mid-term solution would be to switch facilities from Langton to the landing-stage while developing long term plans for a properly thought-out scheme.

“We thought we had got the nod from DfT and then they suddenly changed their mind and we got into a situation where the city council might be liable for a clawback.”

Cllr Gary Millar, council business and tourism executive member, said: “We want the Government and Europe to acknowledge what a great job we’ve done and let us get on with it to improve Liverpool’s economy.”

The grant assistance was given with restrictions that the terminal would not compete with places like Southampton but the DfT has said it will listen to an appeal.

Under Peel’s long-term solution, a £25m state-of-the-art cruise berth would be created in central docklands.

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