Ports & Connectivity Debate
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
I led a Parliamentary debate on ports and port connectivity, where members from all the edges of the country came to talk about their very different ports and their potential.
As an island nation, our prosperity is closely connected to the strength of our ports. Our towns flourish where ports thrive, and decline where harbours have silted up, and trade moved on.
Supporting our ports and making sure they are well connected is vital to our national success and resilience, yet the infrastructure needed to support the growth of our ports is not always in place.
That’s why improving rail connectivity must be a priority. The Railways Bill is a welcome step because it places a duty to promote rail freight and set growth targets. This matters a lot when a single freight train can take up to 129 lorries off our roads - with clear benefits for the environment and local communities.
In Falmouth, I have been campaigning to reopen a short stretch of track linking the docks to the branch line, which has not been used for 20 years. With the rebirth of the critical minerals industry in Cornwall, there will be a big demand for freight transport.
There are other connectivity challenges, beyond transport. Ports are facing growing constraints in accessing the grid. With the sector moving towards decarbonisation, demand for electrification is increasing, yet limited grid capacity is holding projects back. We can see that in Falmouth, where plug-in power for ships is available, but restricted capacity means it can be used only by smaller vessels.
Like many ports, Falmouth is looking ahead. And it is well placed to support the emerging floating offshore wind (FLOW) sector in the Celtic Sea; the docks are being redeveloped to service turbines and are surrounded by a cluster of innovative marine engineering businesses, designing anchors and floating platforms.
Falmouth can play an essential role in the clean energy transition, and this would create jobs for our kids – that’s why I urged for a “no regrets” investment.
You can read more of my speech here:
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