Speaking in Parliament today, Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies praised last week’s Budget for “meeting so many of the immediate and longer term needs of North Wales”.
He welcomed funding for Denbighshire County Council, which can assist in regenerating Rhyl Town Centre, the reprofiling of North Wales Growth Deal, which “will help redevelop the former North Wales Hospital in Denbigh, support high value manufacturing at St Asaph, and boost digital connectivity and green energy projects”, and the Community Ownership Fund, which he said “has the potential to be a major boost for all those who desperately want the Belle Vue grounds to remain the home of football in Rhyl”.
He also commended the extension of furlough for the employed and self-employed, the continued VAT reduction for hospitality accommodation and attractions, and the freezing of alcohol duty.
Speaking in the Budget debate, he said:
“These are all very welcome measures which provide security, particularly for the hospitality and tourism sectors, during, what we hope are, the final stages of this pandemic.
“These sectors are extremely important in a constituency such as the Vale of Clwyd and in addition to the Chancellor’s Budget measures, there is a desperate need for the Welsh Government to publish a roadmap out of lockdown, to align with the clear measures as set out by the Prime Minister.
“The medium to long term commitments which the Chancellor has made will provide the boost which is needed to address local pockets of deprivation and to ensure levelling up in relation to more general regional economic performance.”
He added:
“The Budget included funding which will provide tangible benefits to my constituents.
"Denbighshire County Council is a direct beneficiary of the Budget, receiving £125,000 of capacity funding in relation to the Levelling-Up Fund and an additional £20,000 for similar purposes as regards the Community Renewal Fund. These programmes open up the possibility of many millions of pounds of support for the county within the next year or so, to promote local regeneration. I look forward to working with the council to secure a turnaround of the fortunes of Rhyl High Street, and with my Rt Hon Friend, the member for Clwyd West and my Hon Friend, the member for Clwyd South, to see investment in other town centres in the area.”
It was announced at the Budget that the North Wales Growth Deal will be reprofiled, with funding being brought forward from 15 years to 10, which will mean an extra £4.4 million per year from this April, for nine years
James said:
“It is hoped that this investment will create 3,800 new jobs and deliver a £2.2 billion boost to the local economy.
“This deal alone is set to help redevelop the former North Wales Hospital in Denbigh, support high value manufacturing at St Asaph, and boost digital connectivity and green energy projects.
“As we bounce back from Coronavirus, this transformation of our local communities and economy will be very welcome. I am confident that this Budget puts North Wales, and the whole of Britain, in a strong position to recover and grow following a particularly challenging year for us all.”
James also spoke of his hope for further commitments to boost regional rail infrastructure, and said he was looking forward to the findings of Sir Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review.
