OPINION: Congratulations to Carno station campaigners

Plaid Cymru has been calling for a new station for many years now.

I’ve raised the issue in the Senedd chamber last year in February pressing the Transport Minister on the issue. I’m pleased that the delay could be coming to an end.

I’d like to congratulate the campaigners for making the case for having a station at Carno over many years.

Let us hope when the station is built many visitors will come to Powys by the train. Usually we welcome tourists with open arms, but our message during the public health emergency is clear, stay home and come to Wales later.

Once the immediate crisis is over we need to ensure that tourism businesses that many of us depend on for our livelihoods in rural Wales are supported.

We’ve already seen the financial impacts of lockdown on rural communities with a high percentage of seasonal workers.

The Westminster Government must extend the furlough scheme beyond October for these businesses, as well as altering the business contribution element for them after August. We also need flexibility in the scheme so that some workers can work part time on things like essential maintenance and adaptations for socially distanced operation.

Further stages of the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund must also provide support for businesses overlooked initially, such as B&Bs who pay council tax rather than business rates.

Long term support for the tourism sector from the UK and Welsh Government is an absolute must if the industry is to survive, and these announcements need to be made soon to give businesses enough time to prepare. We cannot let this crisis ruin an industry which is so crucial to the Welsh economy.

If this coronavirus crisis has shown us anything it is that Westminster isn’t working for Wales, there is another way, by joining Plaid Cymru by clicking on the link www.join.partyof.wales

You can email me at HelenMary.Jones@senedd.wales.