MP Calls for Greater Government Support on the Global Centre of Rail Excellence

The Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick has called on the UK Labour Government to do more to encourage economic investment in former mining and industrial towns 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, 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.

The project is expected to be a major employer for communities in both the South of Powys and in Neath Port Talbot if it goes ahead.

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 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 David Chadwick MP said:

“The closure of the last blast furnaces at Port Talbot marks the loss of yet more highly skilled jobs in 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, but we will continue to push the Labour Government to give this project the support it needs to get off the ground.”

ENDS