Suicide or salvation? Divisions over wisdom of Brexit remain
As Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to trigger Article 50 tomorrow, Steffan Thomas asked people in Port Talbot how they feel now about Brexit
WHEN some of the most deprived areas in Wales voted to leave the much maligned European Union last June political commentators viewed it as a protest vote.
Questions were asked whether those who voted to leave fully appreciated the magnitude of the funding some of their areas received from the European Union.
Calls for taking back control of the UK and being able to make decisions without answering to a higher body were often cited as reasons to leave the EU.
Port Talbot has benefitted greatly from EU funding, £9m worth to be precise.
A further range of regeneration projects are awaiting confirmation, with around £9m of the £15m total investment value sourced from additional European funding.
With the EU having funded a number of schemes in Neath Port Talbot including employability programmes, programmes for the homeless and the regeneration of rural communities, Port Talbot residents gave a mixed response ahead of the UK finally triggering Article 50 tomorrow.
Wayne Edwards spent 41 years working in Port Talbot steelworks and believed the area would suffer as a result of leaving the European Union.
“I think it was an almost suicidal decision to leave the EU,” said Mr Edwards.
“People have taken power away from the EU and given it to a Tory Government that is never going to give more funding to a traditional Labour area like this in Wales.
“We have had a massive amount of funding from the EU including the Valleys Road which I use very often.
“I think one of the reasons that we have voted out is because of Jeremy Corbyn as there isn’t a strong enough opposition.
“Certainly this area will struggle without EU funding,”
Meurig Jones of Abergwinfi had a similar opinion of the decision to trigger Article 50.
He said: “It is a risky business leaving the EU. We are not like the US where we can trade with whoever we want. Our closest neighbours are in Europe and we may suffer if we don’t trade with them.”
However, many of Port Talbot’s older generation believed that there might be short-term pain but that the area would be better off outside of the EU in the long run.
Steelworker Adrian Jones said: “Yes, we may lose some funding but our government should be making their own decisions and not answering to Europe.
“You look at the justice system – a British judge could sentence someone to jail for a bad crime and then they can appeal to the EU when it should be our decisions.
“I do think we will be better off in the long run anyway because other European countries won’t be able to afford not to do business with us.”
John Evans, 85, from Port Talbot said: “I think it is an excellent idea.
“We had a wonderful country before we went in there and we will have a wonderful country when we get out.
“When we went in there was only five countries and now there are well over 20 countries and the smaller countries all want money from the EU. “It’s time we got out.” Anyone driving around Neath Port Talbot would find themselves surrounded by EU-funded projects. The Valleys Regional Park, Aberavon beach shelter and the sunken gardens in Aberavon are just a few examples.
The EU is also committed to funding a number of projects before the UK finally cuts all ties with the continent.
Under the 2014-2020 EU funding programme the EU will fund Workways+, an employability programme for those aged 25 and over in nonCommunities First areas; Cynnydd, a multi-agency approach to supporting those young people at risk of becoming Neet – not in Education, Employment or Training; and a Port Talbot “Integrated Transport Hub”.
The county borough also indirectly benefits from a significant number of regional and national schemes such as Business Wales, Welsh Government business support programme, and Social Business Wales which supports apprenticeships and is in conjunction with the Welsh Government programme for individuals.
Gareth Nutt, director of environment for Neath Port Talbot Council, said: “The UK Treasury has confirmed it will provide a full lifetime guarantee for all structural and investment projects approved before the UK leaves the EU, therefore all live projects will be implemented in line with projected business plans.”
“We will wait to see what alternative arrangements are put in place for when the UK leaves the EU and ensure that Neath Port Talbot is well positioned to maximise the opportunities presented by these arrangements.”