Kick in the teeth for the people
WE watched in shock and despair this week as the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, waxed lyrical at the despatch box in Westminster about the wonderful new battery factory and the resultant new jobs which are coming to Bridgend.
This was backed up by the Conservative Secretary of State for Wales. Yet this must be the very same factory and the very same jobs which we learnt last year are going to... England!
What a kick in the teeth this is again for the people of Bridgend and Ogmore.
There was no tangible support from the UK Government when Ford closed the plant here, but they could have helped other jobs come here – like the battery-production plant.
But instead, they stood by silently as it went elsewhere.
Now we have a Prime Minister, egged on by his appointed Secretary of State for Wales, who not only has failed to support these jobs losses last year, but actually believes that he has delivered this fictional new factory and these fictional jobs to Bridgend.
Clearly the Prime Minister doesn’t even know where Bridgend is, but you would have hoped that the Secretary of State might have helped cure his ignorance, rather than make it worse.
We, along with Welsh Government and the skilled local workforce, will continue to work hard to create new jobs here in the Bridgend and South Wales area.
But frankly, this contempt for Bridgend by the Conservatives shows how little they care for this valuable manufacturing area and the workers and families impacted by job losses.
BRIDGEND County Borough Council has confirmed that free parking is still available at two councilmaintained car parks to support traders.
Running until the end of March, the first three hours of parking are free for those using the Rhiw multi-storey car park in Bridgend while at the John Street car park in Porthcawl, free parking is offered between noon and 3pm.
Free parking is also available at the Llynfi Road multi-storey in Maesteg and the Penprysg Road car park in Pencoed.
Councillor Richard Young, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “While only essential retailers are allowed to open under the current coronavirus restrictions, the council continues to do all it can to support local businesses and shoppers.
“We are also currently developing plans to encourage the safe return of shoppers to our town centres when restrictions are eased and all businesses are allowed to reopen once again.
“The council is committed to helping businesses make it through these difficult times and over the past year has introduced a range of free and concessionary rental rates for market stall traders, processed millions of pounds of financial support, and offered a range of training opportunities.”
Visit the council’s car parks webpage at www. bridgend.gov.uk/ residents/roadstransport-and-parking/ car-parks/ for more information.