A few weeks ago, I posted on the economic problems of Anglesey and the fact that the island is currently the poorest county in the whole of the UK. Given such an exceptional situation, there needs to be an exceptional approach.Other bloggers, notably Alwyn ap Huw and A Change of Personnel have also taken up the call.
I will be making a further impassioned plea in my column in the Daily Post on Monday and demonstrate that there has been a total failure by WAG to provide the right level of resources to support the development of the poorest part of Wales with funding being directed to other more prosperous regions.
As a result, it is not surprising that the local authority is now making the case for “special status” to be accorded to the island so that it can benefit from additional funding in the way that the South Wales Valleys did after the coal and steel closures.
In the absence of any support from WAG, the best hope for the island seems to be the energy strategy of the UK Government.
Following Anglesey Aluminium’s demise, the only significant private sector employer is Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, although that is to be decommissioned soon. However, there are indications that the UK Government wishes to build a second nuclear power station next to the existing one and there are rumours locally that energy companies have already started buying land in preparation for such a decision.
Such a project could be the saviour for the island, especially given the way that most developed nations are now looking to nuclear as part of their low carbon solution over the next 50 years. Not only would such a development provide well-paid and highly skilled jobs, there could also be significant spin-offs through the creation of a new science park focused on supporting the nuclear industry and the energy-generating sector as a whole.
Given the scale of the project, the decision to build the station rests ultimately with the UK Government, although WAG is the main player in developing the infrastructure around the power station, especially as it has responsibility for skills and business support. However, this seems to be going nowhere as the position of ministers within the current Government seems to be, to put it bluntly, in a mess.
Whilst the Economic Development Minister supports the building of a new power station within the constituency he has represented for the last 22 years, the Environment Minister is diametrically opposed to such a decision and even recently called for a public inquiry into any new nuclear facilities in Wales.
Such a confused message from the Cabinet certainly doesn’t help the development of the energy sector within Wales and could jeopardise the potential of billions of pounds of investment into our poorest county.
At the very least, those living on Anglesey deserve to know whether ministers will fully back a bid for a new nuclear power station or, if not, whether they will provide the necessary resources to create badly needed jobs.
Given the way that it has been largely ignored by policymakers during the past decade, it is the least that this island deserves.
Update: Good piece from Valleys Mam as well on this subject and she raises an issue that I will discuss in more depth on Monday
Comments
But I also think it's due to an under-par civil service and specific Labour interference. They see public funds as Milchkühe for the benefit of party members. See how they use "Communities First".
On with the debate!
Pelagius - haven't said that at all and I will be making the argument that it actually the more prosperous parts of Wales that have received vital EU funds. What is the point of having convergence funds to bring the poorest areas up to a certain level of prosperity when the funding goes to those who already have it.
I know Steve Fothergill's work very well and I agree with much of what he has said, although it is interesting to note that £160m of government money has already been pumped into the Heads of the Valleys during the last twelve months from Convergence Funds.