THE campaign to lift the ban on cruises launching from Liverpool’s Pier Head is poised to take a big leap forward.

City council officials hope to receive government confirmation, within weeks, that European Union state aid rules are no barrier to their plans to install “turnaround facilities”.

That confirmation will allow Liverpool to submit a firm proposal for how much it will repay of the grant aid it received for the existing Pier Head terminal – a sum that could be as high as £15m.

And that, in turn, will trigger the fresh Department for Transport (DfT) consultation – promised by shipping minister Mike Penning in January.

Cruise turnarounds would begin in late 2012, although millions must be spent on passport, check-in and luggage facilities – allowing tourists to visit Liverpool for days, or weeks, rather than a few hours. The Daily Post has led the campaign for the cruise liner terminal - see our dedicated section here.

Cllr Joe Anderson, Liverpool's Labour leader said: "Our negotiations with the Government over turnaround facilities are progressing well.

"We are now working hard to make sure we are ready to deliver the physical turnaround facility – which will accommodate passenger handling, luggage and passport control – in readiness for the 2012 cruise season.

"We are optimistic that we will be able to overcome the final hurdles and reach a solution which is acceptable to everyone."

The Daily Post launched its Get On Board campaign to overturn the bar on cruises beginning and ending at Pier Head imposed by Labour, which argued it could breach EU competition rules.