THE North West’s council leaders are throwing their weight behind Liverpool’s demand that its cruise liner terminal should be granted full turnaround status.

The Daily Post’s Get On Board campaign lobbied the Government to lift the ban on cruises starting and ending at the Pier Head.

Meantime, Liverpool City Council received official letters of support from the leaders of Manchester, Preston, Sefton, Halton, Warrington, Trafford, Knowsley and St Helen’s Councils.

This backing from key North West key political figures is the latest boost to the campaign.

It leapt forward last week after positive discussions with Transport Minister Mike Penning in Liverpool, about the turnaround ban imposed by the £15m EU grant to build the Terminal.

He met Liverpool City Council leader Cllr Joe Anderson and Louise Ellman, Liverpool Riverside MP and Parliamentary Transport Select Committee chair, at the Terminal.

It followed Daily Post staff personally delivering a 2,500-signature Get On Board petition to Mr Penning at the Ministry of Transport in London.

Mr Penning agreed the Government will reappraise the proposals for Liverpool Cruise Terminal to become a full turnaround facility.

The support of other council leaders confirms that turnaround cruises would benefit the region.