Lib Dems Call for Greater Economic Investment in South Wales Valleys
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Labour Government to do more to encourage economic investment in the South Wales Valleys to tackle the trend of long-term deindustrialisation in the region.
Highlighting the impact the closure of the last blast furnaces at Port Talbot will have on communities and the regional economy of South Wales, Welsh Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader David Chadwick highlighted the proposed Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Onllwyn, Neath as one project that could bring back highly skilled jobs to the region.
During today’s questions to the Secretary of State for Wales in Parliament, Chadwick called for the UK Labour Government to commit to providing further investment towards the project, but Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens did not provide an answer to the question.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have stated that revitalising former mining and industrial communities across the South Wales Valleys is vital to making the Welsh economy more competitive and providing highly skilled and well-paid jobs, but greater investment is needed to reverse the cycle of industrial decline.
Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader David Chadwick MP said:
“The closure of the last blast furnaces at Port Talbot marks the loss of yet more highly skilled jobs in South Wales, including for people living in my Constituency.
“But the loss of these jobs isn’t inevitable, this Labour Government should and must do more to tackle the trend of deindustrialisation and we need to see greater economic investment in our communities to see this happen.
“The Global Centre for Rail Excellence in Onllwyn is just one example of a project that could potentially deliver new highly skilled and well-paid jobs for communities across the Valleys. It is disappointing that the Welsh Secretary refused to commit to providing additional support for the project today.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to push the Labour Government to do more to bring investment into communities into the Valleys and South Wales and to grow the private sector within Wales.”
ENDS