A LEADING business forum has added its backing to a North Wales site vying to become one of four Heathrow Logistics Hubs.

Deeside Business Forum has written a letter to Heathrow Airport supporting the Tata Steel Shotton site’s bid.

The airport recently revealed that the location was one of only two Welsh sites among a shortlist of 18 across the UK, whittled down from a longlist of 65, all of which were visited last year.

The shortlisted sites will have the opportunity to pitch to the airport’s bosses for their chance to become one of the final four construction centres, to be announced early next year, ahead of work starting in 2021.

The final four sites will become offsite construction centres that will help to deliver Britain’s new runway.

Chairman of Deeside Business Forum and CEO of Comtek Network Systems, Askar Sheibani, said: “Our forum of strong and successful businesses in the North Wales and North West England area is delighted that this site has deservedly made the shortlist.

"The forum has written to Heathrow Airport to emphasise its backing for the site in the strongest terms.

“The area has a proud history of top-quality manufacturing with the relevant experience and wealth of highly-skilled employees necessary to accommodate one of the four Heathrow Logistics Hubs.

"Added to this the location is ideally placed with excellent links for road and rail freight.

“If Tata Steel Shotton were to be chosen as one of four hubs the forum is wholly confident that the area and its workforce has what it takes to make it a huge success.

"The skills are already here and the education and training facilities are in place to ensure a pipeline of quality, invested employees continues in the future.”

Jack Sargeant, Assembly Member for Alyn and Deeside, has also written to Heathrow Airport backing Tata Steel Shotton’s bid.

He said: "I’m pleased that Deeside Business Forum as the leading business organisation in the area has joined me in supporting this application.

"If the site is successful in becoming one of the four hubs, it will have a positive and lasting effect on the local workforce for decades to come.”