Nissan for Freedom of Sunderland
Nissan has been nominated for the Freedom of the City by councillors in Sunderland. At its meeting tonight (Wednesday 23 November), Sunderland City Council tabled a Notice of Motion that the company should receive the Freedom. The notice said: 'This council congratulates wholeheartedly the Nissan workforce for their sterling efforts in securing the future production of the next generation Qashqai and X-Trail and feels that it is right and proper for the workforce of Nissan to receive the Freedom of the City at a future date.' The notice, which received cross-party support, was proposed by the Leader of the City Council and the Labour Party Majority Group Leader Councillor Paul Watson. He said: "For the first time we have the real secret of Nissan's success - it's the workforce." Paraphrasing comments from Trevor Mann, a Sunderland worker who became Nissan's Chief Performance Officer and was awarded a Freedom of the City in 2014, Cllr Watson added: "There is a spirit and enthusiasm that makes Sunderland a very special place. Nissan's successes would not have been possible without the people of Sunderland." Last month Nissan, which employs more than 7,000 people in Sunderland, said it would be updating its production facilities with a new Qashqai model and a new vehicle the X-Trail. In the 30 years since it began production in Sunderland, more than eight million vehicles have rolled off its production lines, and the plant helps support thousands of jobs across the North East. Freedoms are proposed in Sunderland to individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to the wellbeing and community spirit of the city. Leader of the council's Conservative Opposition Group, Councillor Peter Wood seconded and backed the notice. He referred to the “great” achievement of the Nissan workforce and how Nissan has transformed both the city’s and the region’s economy. He said: "It is right to recognise the contribution of the men and women who work at Nissan – on the production line, in the office and in the boardroom. To confer the freedom of the city upon them is the best way we as councillors can show how proud we are of them for the pride they take in their work." With unanimous support in the council chamber and its acceptance as City Council policy, the council will now look to further arrangements for a Nissan Freedom Ceremony in 2017. In addition to the recent Nissan announcement, Sunderland City Council has a joint-venture with South Tyneside Council to develop an International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) to the north of the Nissan plant. This is for more than 100 hectares (more than 100 football pitches) of new manufacturing space to attract 5,000 new jobs and £300m of investment. Recent freedoms have included former Sunderland AFC players Niall Quinn MBE and its goalkeeping legend Jimmy Montgomery BEM, and Joël Batteux the Mayor of Sunderland's twin-town St Nazaire. Other freedoms of Sunderland include television reporter Kate Adie, 4 Regiment Royal Artillery, 3 Rifles and the crew of HMS Ocean, Sunderland's adopted warship and the Royal Navy's largest.