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Carwyn backs region to survive recession

Published date: 14 January 2011 |
Published by: Helen Davies

 

WALES’ First Minister was full of optimism for the region as he toured regeneration projects yesterday.

In Connah’s Quay, Carwyn Jones officially opened the new medical centre on Fron Road and visited the £15m Quay Shopping Centre, Quay Nature Reserve and refurbished Civic Hall.

Mr Jones also reiterated his support for Wrexham gaining city status, saying such a move would be “very beneficial” to the town.

The First Minister described the new medical centre as a “fantastic building”, adding: “Not so long ago it was very common for GPs to be operating out of homes.

“This is accessible and there’s plenty of space. It must be fantastic to work in and fantastic for people to come to their GP here.”

Speaking to the Leader after the opening, he said it was good to see regeneration in Flintshire.

But he added there would be less of it this year because of the country’s finances.

Mr Jones said: “There will still be schools and health centres being opened but there will be fewer of them as our budget has been cut by 40 per cent.”

He welcomed the Airbus contract for commercial planes announced earlier this week and said Flintshire was well placed to ride out the tough economic climate.

“The contract puts Flintshire in a good position,” he said. “It is a very vibrant place.”

The First Minister also talked of the economic situation in Wrexham and said he thought achieving city status would help the town regenerate.

Two-thirds of readers who voted in a Leader poll last month were against a city bid but Mr Jones, who has previously backed such a move, said he was “very surprised” by the result.

He said: “I think it would be very beneficial for the town. Why should Chester be a city and Wrexham not?

“Chester’s only 10 miles away. There’s no reason why Wrexham should be any different.”

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant welcomed the First Minister’s visit, saying:  “I am proud to have worked in partnership with local councillors in Connah's Quay, who are working tirelessly to regenerate the town.

“I am particularly pleased the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government has been able to provide the funding for a first class health centre, which will serve the local people for many years to come.”

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  1. Posted by: a cahill at 10:23 on 14 January 2011 Report

    Straight from the horses mouth... the firs Minister admitting that Wrexham has problems and badly needs regeneration...but he fails to understand that any regeration in Wrexham needs to come from within and without the support of locals it will only lead to more problems... he also fails to give any reason why City status would be benificial to the Town

  2. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 15:17 on 14 January 2011 Report

    City status would only be benificial to the council, not the people of the town. If the council was more honest, and it did what the people wanted not what they thought we wanted, we might back them. even its workforce is not happy with the regime from within the council. how can we justify wasting more money in this time of double dip recession that will get a lot worse than it is now. Stuff City status, keep the money to repair the roads.

  3. Posted by: liberty1 at 11:55 on 15 January 2011 Report

    Glad to see people are waking up to the fact that the Tory/LibDim cuts will and are plunging the UK into an even worse recession , those at the bottom will pay with their jobs and higher bills while the likes of the bankers carry on living the good life ,city status is the last thing most people are worried about.

  4. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 16:16 on 15 January 2011 Report

    lib, although its true that we are in a double dip recession, and that the bankers and politicians are the fault, the present government has no choice on some of the cutbacks, but OTT on others this council has consistently been cutting back for years, I see no real benifits to Wrexham or its people by gaining City status. the only ones to gain will be the council, leaving its people to pick up the bill.

  5. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 16:26 on 15 January 2011 Report

    The problem with this recession is its not over by a long way, and because of instability and uncertainty in the markets, due mainly to the Euro, there is every chance we could enter into a third more serious depression, where Eu countries like ourselves have to shore up a currency that is failing and it will mean more cutbacks to pay for it. Wrexham council have a habit of spening when there is no need, and not spending when there is.

  6. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 16:27 on 15 January 2011 Report

    Hope your (man) flu is over anyway.

  7. Posted by: liberty1 at 18:56 on 15 January 2011 Report

    IMO ,thank you for your concern regarding my man flu , it turned out to be somewhat worse than that but due to the professional care provided by the doctors /nurses and all the other staff at the Maelor ( not the suit wearing clipboard brigade) I am back up and running , more of an amble really , NHS , best in the world , dont let the Tories destroy it.

  8. Posted by: Gwilymygwynt at 20:41 on 15 January 2011 Report

    I quite like the sound of "Wrexham city" it should bring additional investment to the town. Further investment like dol y eryrod will be good for the place. Although the town needs improvement city status could just be ideal thing to kick start the process

  9. Posted by: a cahill at 22:30 on 15 January 2011 Report

    Unfortunately the only ones that will benifit from City status are the so called elite of the Town...what is most surprising is that Ian Lucas hasn't realised that the massive building program in Wrexham will only bring more voters with Tory leanings and could cost him his seat...same goes for City Status...all of it promoted by the Labour led WAG

  10. Posted by: a cahill at 22:45 on 15 January 2011 Report

    Liberty 1...I realise that people may have a problem differentiating betwwen the right wing Labour Party and the Tories but I'm almost sure that Edwina Hart is a Minister in the Labour led WAG and is actively supporting cutbacks at the Maelor is prone to calling people who object...trouble makers...your illness may have affected your memory somewhat

  11. Posted by: liberty1 at 09:56 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Mr Cahill , if you are not 100% sure about something it is best not to comment but that has not stopped you in the past , as for Ms Hart my opinions regarding this lady are in past comments. the funding of the WAG is at present from the Tory/LibDim alliance via HM Treasury , the amount allocated is what the WAG has to work with.

  12. Posted by: liberty1 at 10:07 on 17 January 2011 Report

    As we live in a democracy we have regular elections which gives people the opportunity to show their pleasure/displeasure at the way the money is spent. Anyone who missed Camermoroon on the Today prog this AM should listen to the interview via the BBCiPLAYER where he states that our health service is inferior to that available in Europe , that should please the Tory eorosceptics.

  13. Posted by: a cahill at 10:43 on 17 January 2011 Report

    lib 1... your point being ?....anyone with half a brain cell at their disposal could decipher where and why the present problems exist. The deregulation of Banks by the Thatchter Govt and the failure over 13yrs of New Labour to reverse the changes have led to the present financial problems.

  14. Posted by: a cahill at 10:55 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Even Welsh Labour have highlighted the underfunding of Wales which has been going on for years and during the 13 years of Labour control of the British economy...despite Ed Milliband's denial of reality it was Labour who oversaw the unfettered wreckage on the economy which we are all paying for now... Dear Chief Sec their is no money left was Liam Byrnes parting shot to his successor

  15. Posted by: liberty1 at 10:58 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Mr Cahill , my point is in my comments but as usual you dont read , digest and evaluate other peoples views and opinions, you plck up on odd words and become reactionary as you feel you are an expert on anything and everything under the sun.

  16. Posted by: a cahill at 11:35 on 17 January 2011 Report

    lib 1.... have read your comments...with a a large degree of amusement....especially the part that states we live in a democracy which would of course entail freedom of speech and thought which you seem to deny to others by getting personal.... showing an inadeqaute and inferior side of your self.... but don't give up your great fun to have around

  17. Posted by: liberty1 at 12:02 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Mr Cahill , the words pot and kettle come to mind with your last comment , glad to see you took my instruction and reread my post but have obviously not digested it , see you have now moved on to being an expert in psychology ,is there no end to your capabilities? sorry I forgot your the fount of all knowledge in Wxm and surrounding area and I dared to question your authority.

  18. Posted by: a cahill at 13:32 on 17 January 2011 Report

    lib 1....Ignorance is always the first resort of the fearful and inadequate.... perhaps one day you will have a thought of your own and stop leeching of the comments made by others...until then continue fighting evil with your sword of truth...I nicked that from one of your previous comments

  19. Posted by: liberty1 at 14:24 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Mr Cahill ,glad to see that my comments leave an indelible mark on your memory , as for ignorance I think you are neither fearful or inadequate but to quote Voltire " He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked" What do you think?

  20. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 15:28 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Its true that council funding comes ultimatly from central gov, but is shared out (suposedly) according to council needs via the WAG, even during the 'Boom' years under labour Wrexham council felt it had to cut back on services so as to build new schools etc, has left the town in a total mess,

  21. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 15:29 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Schools need three times as much now to build than it would have 15 years ago, our road network is about to crash out as funds begin to dry up once more, A friend of mine who works in the print business recons it would cost WMBC £150,000 to change the logo etc on stationary. thats £150,000 we could and should use for more important things.

  22. Posted by: InMyOpinion at 15:37 on 17 January 2011 Report

    Some will say that WMBC were right to save when it had the money, and others will say it should have been used to keep the road network in good repair, as well as schools, and housing repairs, but one thing stands out, and thats the way councillors and chief execs get more money than they are really worth, If Wrexham were to get City status, that bill would rise even more with some getting 100% wage rise. We simply cannot afford it.

  23. Posted by: liberty1 at 20:01 on 17 January 2011 Report

    IMO , very good points which cannot be argued with as to why Wxm has not achieved and does not deserve City status and also the cost that we would carry.

  24. Posted by: a cahill at 09:54 on 18 January 2011 Report

    Given the constant drip drip of information concerning of Council Depts failings... then it is even more important that the Council should concentrate it efforts on getting services up to scratch rather that spending money and time on something that has not got the support of the people of Wrexham

  25. Posted by: liberty1 at 20:20 on 19 January 2011 Report

    Mr Cahill ,you have to take into account the Tory cuts which are forcing many of the cutbacks across the UK.

 

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