THE main opponent to Liverpool receiving the go-ahead for cruise liners to start and finish voyages in the city has revealed plans for a fifth £30m terminal.

Southampton’s new facility would be one of the largest in northern Europe and able to handle the world’s biggest liners.

The south coast city welcomed shipping minister Mike Penning to the city yesterday to unveil the scheme.

Mr Penning is also currently considering an application from Liverpool to upgrade the Pier Head terminal so it can offer a full turnaround facility. Visit our Get On Board campaign section by clicking here.

But Southampton Docks owner, Associated British Ports (ABP), has consistently lobbied the Government not to allow the upgrade to go-ahead.

It was instrumental in scuppering an earlier bid to win Government approval when Liverpool asked the last Labour government for the turnaround licence.

Liverpool’s £15m cruise terminal was funded by grants from the European Union. ABP argues the city should re-pay that seed capital before being allowed to develop the terminal any further.

ABP’s port director Doug Morrison told the Daily Post: “The challenge to Liverpool and every other port in the country is invest your own money and, yes, it might be very successful in taking our market share away, that’s what competition is all about. But what you can’t expect us to accept is for you to use state aid to achieve that goal.”