PLANS to revitalise Runcorn's Weston Docks - the historic part of Runcorn's maritime and waterways' heritage - have moved a step forward.

An application for two storage units of 2,000 and 5,000 square metres on land at Weston Docks between Salt Union and West-link Ltd, is the second part of a bid to provide suitable storage in a major four-year redevelopment of the site.

Alan Mckie and Peter Williams, chairman and managing director respectively of West-link Shipping and Storage Ltd, said they were delighted that permission had been granted to allow the next phase of the development of the Docklands.

Mr Williams said: 'The need for new, quality warehousing and storage facilities to meet the demands of local industry and the surrounding is now so great that it is vital for Westlink to be able to supply the space to meet the requirements for new orders for the company over the next three years and beyond by one of the local industries.

'The objective is to transfer the logistics of industrial needs off the roads and on to the waterways and railways and this will also provide a major job creation opportunity bringing many full time jobs to the area and also greatly reducing the unacceptably high level of transport on the local roads.'

Halton MP Derek Twigg said: 'I was very impressed with what I saw and heard. The company has a clear view of what it wants to achieve and convinced me that it had the energy and drive to see through such a redevelopment.

'There is support from several multi-national companies including Ineos Chlor.'

Westlink's plans will enable larger vessels to unload and turn round, increase storage facilities, open the possibilities of using the River Weaver for transportation, bring in a rail link which will reduce traffic movement, improve traffic flow around the site with a new road link, create a significant number of jobs in the 18th most socially and economically deprived borough in England and Wales and of course regenerate Weston Dock.

Councillor Rob Polhill, Halton Borough Council's executive board member for development, planning and transportation, said: 'We have been working closely with Westlink to help bring these plans to fruition. This is part of an exciting wider scheme to bring the docks back to life and regenerate the area for the benefit of the whole community.'