Posted: Thu 17th Mar 2016

Opportunity For Talks Welcomed By Carmarthenshire

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 17th, 2016

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.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



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