North Wales “cannot afford to lose out on potentially hundreds of millions and billions of pounds of investment”

Lack of cash and avoiding devolution has been referenced in a question over the future of the £20m Towns Fund and £160m investment zone cash – both of which appear to be on the UK Government budgetary chopping block.

Mark Isherwood, North Wales MS asked for a statement on support for the North Wales economy, appearing to reference elements of this Wrexham.com article, “The leader of Wrexham council has said it would be truly disappointing if the £20 million town fund allocated to Wrexham is scrapped by the Labour UK Government, which was part of a long term investment plan for towns overlooked and taken for granted, including four in Wales.

“He added that, on top of that, there are rumours that the north Wales investment zone of £160 million could be pulled. If that would happen, that would be a disaster for Wrexham and Flintshire because that was supposed to bring in around £1 billion worth of investment within the two counties. This follows statements during the summer casting doubt over the billion-pound plan to electrify the north Wales rail line, and plans to build a large nuclear power station at Wylfa in Anglesey, announcements by UK Government Ministers.

“We therefore need to know what action, if any, the Welsh Government is taking to fight for these schemes—schemes, although Conservative Government schemes, which secured largely cross-party support in the region— or is north Wales going to have to wait several years to bid for the next round of schemes before further delay occurs once again? I call for a statement accordingly because the region doesn’t wish and cannot afford to lose out on potentially hundreds of millions and billions of pounds of investment it was already planning to invest.”

Jane Hutt MS, Trefnydd, responded, “This is something which of course the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales is very mindful of, but indeed also the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning. I have to say, this goes back to some of our discussions earlier on this afternoon. Of course, this pause at the moment in terms of what is going to happen next in terms of—. The previous Conservative Government’s, very narrow and very insular and without Welsh Government engagement, decisions about this funding has put us in this position.

“It’s put us in this position because of the black hole that you have left us, the £22 billion black hole, and I’m sorry, you’re going to hear this a lot from us, because it’s the truth in terms of the mess that you’ve left us in.

“Actually, we never saw the money that was promised to us post structural funds, post Brexit, and then you had this very pork barrel—where there happened to be a Conservative MP—scheme.

“And I’m sorry, I want this to be reconsidered, let alone the UK Government reconsider it. So, Mark, yes of course we accept that Wrexham is a fantastic city, there are lots of prospects, it’s all being looked at, the local authority, the Senedd Member here herself, Lesley Griffiths, but let’s just put this in context as to how we’ve come to this position. ”