SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for more cross border partnerships with England.
Speaking in the Senedd. Mr Rowlands, Shadow Finance Cabinet Secretary, asked the First Minister, Eluned Morgan what she had made of the progress on the Wrexham-Flintshire investment zone.
He said: “I join you in welcoming the progress that’s taken place with the investment zone in North-East Wales, in Wrexham and Flintshire. And particularly welcome the historical cross-Government working and the future cross-Government work between UK, Welsh and local government here in Wales. It’s welcome and it’s needed for North-East Wales.
“That particular investment zone will look to create 6,000 jobs and around £1 billion-worth of investment for Wrexham and Flintshire, but there are also more opportunities.
“First Minister, I wonder if you’d be willing to support those greater opportunities, because the nature of the investment zone on the border with England, there are opportunities with Merseyside, with Manchester and Cheshire, to have more cross-working for economic growth in that part of the UK.
“I wonder if you would support those calls for the setting up of partnerships across England and Wales in North-East Wales with North-West England.”
The First Minister said: “I think it’s in all of our interests to make sure that we develop and grow together.”
Mr Rowlands added: “I was delighted to hear that funding has now been confirmed for the Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone, focusing on advance manufacturing.
“The planned zone will build on the success of the region’s advanced manufacturing sector and is an extremely positive step for the area and for the future of Wrexham and Flintshire.
“We all know that there are endless opportunities for investment in North–East Wales, with our close proximity to the North West and links to Ireland and Europe. Let us hope the creation of this zone is just the beginning.”
