OPPORTUNITY FOR TALKS WELCOMED BY CARMARTHENSHIRE

A Swansea Bay City Deal has taken a huge step forward with the announcement that ministerial talks are to take place.

Chancellor George Osborne said yesterday he was prepared to open negotiations with the region regarding the £500million bid.

Today, leading councillors in Carmarthenshire welcomed the news and said they looked forward to making early progress in the talks.

Leader Cllr Emlyn Dole said: “It is very positive that the Chancellor is proposing talks with us, it gives the City Deal bid much more impetus.

“As a region, we have come together, both in the public and private sectors, to reach this stage and now it’s time to move forward together.

“The City Deal would bring huge benefits to Carmarthenshire and the whole of the Swansea Bay region.”

The bid includes creating an internet coast through a fibre-optic transatlantic cable from New York to Oxwich Bay, to drive forward digital energy, technology and healthcare.

It would bring ultrafast broadband to the region benefitting businesses, particularly those in the technology or creative industries.

In Carmarthenshire, it would also support three key projects – the Wellness and Life Science Village in Llanelli; Yr Egin in Carmarthen; and the Cross Hands East strategic employment site.

Regeneration Executive Board Member and Swansea Bay City Region Vice Chair Cllr Meryl Gravell added: “Our collective vision is for the region to be bold, ambitious, and leading the way in new technology.

“Our plans, if successful, will transform the fortunes of the area creating thousands of jobs and bringing millions of pounds into the local economy.

“The ministerial talks are a major step forward in us achieving that success.”