Why region’s rival freeport bids should merge to strengthen jobs case – The Yorkshire Post says

However both rival plans could, potentially, become irresistible to public and private sector investors if they now joined forces to become the UK plc’s biggest enterprise zone.

Why not? Both blueprints are within close geographical proximity. Both intend to make the most of sea, rail, road, air and cargo infrastructure.

And both will benefit areas of deprivation or, in these instances, untapped potential. Put simply, these areas could – and should – be defining the Northern Powerhouse in action.

Yet another profound point needs to be made. One – or both – plans run the risk of missing out on tax breaks and other benefits due to the Government asking neighbouring areas to bid against each other. This explains why Yorkshire has lost past investment decisions; England’s largest county has been competing with itself rather than pooling resources.

And given how freeports are now the Government’s preferred post-Brexit policy, this region cannot afford to miss out on the new UK customs zones.

Too many jobs – and future opportunities – depend on the Treasury’s final decision for these bids to be effectively left to chance; all local politicians and business leaders need to be working together on this.

For, if a freeport on the scale of a  Humber and South Yorkshire combined bid, was earmarked for the South East, it wouldn’t even be open to question; it would be a done deal.

Today the challenge is utilise the area’s expertise in sectors like green energy, and make the most of the wider development opportunities at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and make a case so convincing because of its scale, coherence and ambition that even the most hesitant of Ministers find Yorkshire’s application to be an irresistible one.

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