The Association for Consultancy and Engineering has welcomed Liberal Democrat proposals to upgrade ports to promote wind turbine manufacturing.  Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg has announced that his party would set aside £400million to invest in North Sea and Irish Sea ports.

 The ports chosen would use the money to deepen their docks for larger ships. That in turn would allow them to manufacture and ship wind turbines for use in growing offshore wind farms.

 Nick Clegg explained: “New off-shore turbines, with blades the size of the London Eye, need to be built and launched from modern docks, so we need to upgrade our shipyards to take advantage of this massive opportunity.”

 ACE welcomed the proposal and the wider recognition that investment in infrastructure is vital to the future wealth of the country.

The Lib Dems suggest that £400million of investment in docks could create 45,000 jobs in the industries that benefit. It would also create 12,000 jobs in developing the ports.

 This illustrates why, despite concerns over the public deficit, long-term investment in the UK’s infrastructure must be secured.