A MINISTERIAL visit to North Essex could signal a major boost for the region’s wind farm industry.

Charles Hendry MP, Energy and Climate Change Minister, was at Harwich Port on Thursday to watch workers build structures for the Greater Gabbard wind farm, which is 14 miles off the coast.

The minister joined North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin at the port at the invitation of the Haven Gateway Partnership, which promotes economic opportunities in the east.

Earlier this year Harwich was refused a £5million grant from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund to fund a regional skills and windport business centre.

A fresh bid has now been made, this time for funding to make Harwich an official Maritime Enterprise Zone.

Mr Jenkin said: “There’s a great opportunity for Harwich at the moment, but the pressure is on for us to make the best of these opportunities.

“We’ve had a stream of ministerial visits, which has shown the Government is interested in helping this happen, but we’ve not had an energy minister here before.

“Harwich can be very important for future of the wind industry and I hope the minister takes away a strong impression of what we have to offer.”

Delegates from across Europe visited the port last month for high-level talks on how to deal with the challenges facing coastal towns.

Yesterday’s visitors were told the growing number of offshore wind farms in the North Sea could mean a massive increase in job opportunities for ports, such as Harwich.

George Kieffer, the Haven Gateway Partnership chairman, told the minister councils and higher education colleages in the area were working with businesses to offer the training needed by the offshore wind farm industry .