AM demands action for more jobs in 'forgotten Conwy Valley'

Oct 6 2011 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

THE Welsh Government is under fire for “forgetting” about the economic growth of the Conwy Valley.

Plaid AM for North Wales Llyr Huws Gruffydd has called for urgent action to create jobs to prevent Dolgarrog and other areas of the Conwy Valley becoming “the forgotten valley”.

Mr Gruffydd made his comments while visiting the site of the old aluminium factory in Dolgarrog with Conwy County Council’s Plaid leader Phil Edwards.

He said: “The site was an important employer in the area for decades and its closure saw the loss of hundreds of relatively well paid manufacturing jobs in the Valley.

“The site has been cleared and made attractive for new employers but I’m concerned that nothing concrete is happening.

“We want to see the Conwy Valley being rejuvenated economically and socially. Having a prime industrial site such as Dolgarrog is a golden opportunity to locate new renewable technologies in which Wales can become a world leader.

“Cutting edge industry is more and more reliant on research and design skills from local universities and colleges. If this kind of rejuvenation is to work, it has to mean a partnership between education and workplaces.

“The only way of keeping well paid work in rural communities, rather than everyone having to leave for big towns and cities in search of jobs, is the challenge for the Welsh Government. - to help the people of Dolgarrog and the surrounding area make the most of this site in terms of employment.

“That’s why I asked First Minister Carwyn Jones for a statement recently. Local people want to see something positive happening with the site.

“However, the recent announcement of Enterprise Zones in other parts of Wales only heightens the sense that this is becoming a forgotten valley when it comes to jobs and employment.”

He added: “There are small enterprises  in the village that are  trying to turn things round, but they’re not enough on their own. Dolgarrog has been left high and dry.”

The former aluminium site, which was the only fully integrated casting and rolling aluminium mill in the UK, employing 170 people until it closed in 2007, and was bought by Ainscough Johnston in 2008.

In 2009, company director Nigel McGurk vowed to help change the fortunes of the village following a survey asking the community what it would like to see on the site.

A mixed use development was favoured, with a theme park, ice rink, prison, allotments and cinema all made as suggestions, but so far the factory site has remained empty.

Paul Martin, of Ainscough Strategic Land, said: “It is a very complicated site that could have been left derelict for years had we not recognised its potential and invested heavily in planning for its future.

“Successful and sustainable regeneration is not about quick fixes. The market for land development remains very challenging but our approach to Dolgarrog has always been about a long term investment.

“Significant environmental improvements have taken place and we’re continuing to work towards a solution that will deliver lasting benefits for the people of the Conwy Valley.”