Budget deal will deliver benefits right across North Wales
AGREEMENT on a new Welsh Government budget is ‘good news for Anglesey and north Wales’, according to the island’s AM.
The deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru means funding will increase the number of doctors trained in north Wales, increased funding for universities and colleges, upgrades to the A470, progress on a third Menai crossing as well as additional investment in the north Wales tourist industry.
The £210m agreement should allow Welsh ministers to get budgets passed in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, despite accusations from the Welsh Conservatives that they’d given up their “prin- ciples” by not taking action on public sector pay or tuition fees.
The Budget deal includes £30m of funding for the Tata power plant in Port Talbot, as well as £15m to improve links on the A487 and A470, plus a £40m boost for mental health funding over two years. In addition, there will be an extra £20m-a-year for higher and further education.
According to Ynys Mon AM, Rhun ap Iorwerth, the budget deal will mean gains for people in Anglesey and north Wales.
He said: “This deal will deliver investment that will be felt by everyone across north Wales.
“We have managed to secure investment to improve our roads and explore the possibility of a new Menai crossing.
“We have managed to strengthen the health service by investing in more district nurses and training more doctors here in north Wales. We regularly hear of recruitment problems here in north Wales. It’s important that we can train more in north Wales so that they will be more likely to want to work here afterwards.
“Through this budget deal, we will also be helping disadvantaged individuals through measures such as securing the Supporting People budget.
“During recent visits to the Wallich and Gorwel in Llangefni and through conversations with young people in Digartref Môn’s supported housing, the positive impact that projects funded through Supporting People have had was clear, and I’m pleased that we were able to secure its budget.”
“We will also give young farmers access to grants to establish themselves in the industry, and more investment for Visit Wales will be a big boost for the tourist industry – two important industries on Anglesey.”
Welsh Government Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said: “We are pleased we have been able to agree this 2-year deal with Plaid Cymru, which secures the whole of our Budget.
“This agreement builds on the one reached between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru last year and includes a series of recurrent allocations for the Welsh language, arts, end-of-life-care, mental health, higher education and Visit Wales.”
But commenting on the two year budget deal, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said: “This budget deal is the latest charade in the Plaid-Labour love-affair and significantly sees both parties break a number of election promises to the people of Wales.
“Despite the well-publicised vows to the electorate only three months ago and being in government in Wales, the Labour Party has once again failed to take any action on public sector pay or tuition fees.” Iorwerth Arms, Bryngwran: First Weds of month: Quiz Night 8pm, proceeds to Hospice at Home G&A. Last Fri of month: Afternoon Tea 2pm-4pm, £3 per person. T: 07821 483154. Liverpool Arms, Menai Bridge: Weds: Quiz 9pm. Sun: Music Quiz 9.30pm. T: 01248 712453. The Valley Anglesey: Last Friday of month: 9pm, free live music. Sunday Carvery 12pm-4pm. New for 2017: Garden Bar. T: 01407 740203. Breeze Hill Hotel, Benllech: Thurs’s 9pm: Quiz night for local charities. T: 01248 852308. The Owain Glyndŵr, Llanddona: Tues, Fish chips & peas. Fri, Curry night. £5 each, from 5-8pm. T: 01248 810710. Tap & Spile, Bangor: Tues, free entry prize quiz 9.30pm . Monthly open mic night. T: 01248 370835. French Conversation on Thurs, 7-9pm (intermediates and above). For details e: jannieu@tiscali.co.uk The Bull Inn, Bethesda: Weds at 9pm, Jam Session. T: 01248 600438. Anglesey Arms, Caernarfon: Thursdays: quiz night. Fridays: live music. T: 01286 672158. Pant-yr-Ardd, Tregarth: Every Tuesday at 9pm, Bingo. T: 01248 600057. Anglesey Arms, Menai Bridge: The North Wales Guitar Circle meet 7.45pm on the second Tuesday of each month. More details tel: Jane 01407 831480.