Anger and disbelief as county given low priority for crucial ‘levelling up’ cash pot:
DECISION BEGGARS BELIEF SAYS PLAID CYMRU MP
ACONTROVERSIAL new UK Government ‘levelling-up’ fund has left Gwynedd and Anglesey off the priority list – while Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s own constituency has made the cut.
The UK Government unveiled a £4.8bn ‘levelling-up’ pot – with £800m to share between Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland over the next four years.
It has come under fire for ‘undermining democracy’ by moving powers on economic development and transport that were devolved to Wales after two referendums back to Westminster.
Welsh Government has been frozen out of the decision making process with Finance Minister Rebecca Evans saying it is “completely unacceptable”.
The UK Government has now published where counties fit in its priority categories – from one to three – with funding preference given for those in one.
These are supposed to be based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.
It has seen 17 counties in Wales make the cut.
But Gwynedd, which has low average wages and areas of deprivation, and Anglesey – which has one of the lowest GVAs in the UK – have failed to make the priority one list.
Gwynedd is in the third tier and Anglesey the middle category.
This is despite thriving Cardiff making the list and the Chancellor’s Yorkshire constituency of Richmond – one of the least deprived in England – also a priority area.
Under previous EU funds Anglesey and Gwynedd were among the target areas for European cash.
The new fund will invest in local infrastructure that has a “visible impact” on people and their communities.
This includes local transport schemes, urban regeneration projects and cultural assets.
Bids can be made by organisations like local authorities and Business Improvement Districts.
Plaid’s Liz Saville Roberts MP, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: “It beggars belief that the Chancellor can attempt to justify including his own constituency along with the constituencies of many of his Tory colleagues in the highest category of need, while scorning a county like Gwynedd.
“The economy of north west Wales has suffered decades of central government underinvestment and workers here are among the lowest paid in the UK.
“This isn’t a levelling-up budget – it’s nothing but a Tory Party stitch-up.”
Treasury sources told HuffPost UK that Mr Sunak had no sight of the specific areas that would be deemed high priority for the levelling up fund.
The UK Treasury added: “The index places areas into category 1,2 or 3 based on the local area’s need for economic recovery and growth, improved transport connectivity, and regeneration.
“These bandings will form part of our criteria for assessing bids.
“While preference will be given to bids from higher priority areas, the bandings do not represent eligibility criteria, nor the amount or number of bids a place can submit.
“They are meant to be an indicator to help generally target places which are most in need of levelling up. Priority 1 areas include Blackburn, Blackpool, Chesterfield, Gosport, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Oldham, Redcar and Cleveland.
“We will publish a full methodological note shortly. Conwy, Denbighshire and Wrexham have made the priority list.”
Dr James Davies, MP/AS Vale of Clwyd/Dyffryn Clwyd, welcomed the opportunity for Denbighshire to bid for funds.
He said: “The UK Government’s levelling-up fund will back local projects to improve everyday life for millions of people and I am absolutely delighted that the Chancellor has allocated this £150K to enable Denbighshire to work up projects to this end.
“There is already much regeneration work being carried out across Denbighshire but that needs to step up a gear and this funding will enable me to work with the Council to ensure that is the case.
“The UK Government has supported hundreds of thousands of people and businesses in Wales through the pandemic and this funding demonstrates the Government’s further commitment to improving the lives of people in North Wales and ensuring that Denbighshire is not left behind.”
Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie said: “The Levelling Up Fund is only one of many mechanisms to promote investment.
“The (UK) government has committed £4.8 million in hightech green energy investment and jobs this week.
“I will be applying for the Levelling up fund whatever the priority category.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay said: “We are committed to levelling-up opportunities right across the United Kingdom so that all communities can benefit from our future prosperity.”
Ynys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “After suffering decades of underinvestment and a lack of strategic leadership from both UK and Welsh governments, it’s frankly a slap in the face to be told that Ynys Môn is no longer a priority.
“We need urgent answers about what measurements of need were used for the design of these bizarre categories.”