Would-be MPs back Wylfa Newydd
THE MAIN runners in the marginal constituency of Ynys Mon have made clear their backing for a new nuclear plant being built on the island.
Although a contentious issue in much of Wales, support for a new nuclear plant to replace Wylfa has traditionally enjoyed far greater support on the Isle of Anglesey.
With the constituency expected to be a three-way marginal come election day, the three men expected to battle it out to become the next MP are all publicly backing such a development.
Labour’s Albert Owen said: “Our manifesto makes it clear that nuclear will continue to be part of the UK energy supply.
“Labour locally and both Jeremy Corbyn and Carwyn Jones support this position and I am proud to stand on this policy as part of our energy mix along with renewables.
“I have personally fought to get this into our manifesto, and in Parliament since my election I have led the campaign to get new nuclear on the agenda. The Wylfa B project got the go ahead in 2009 under a Labour government.
“Plaid Cymru failed to put nuclear in their manifesto. Wylfa Newydd is the largest proposed investment project in Wales and not to commit is a failure to stand up for the project.”
But former Deputy First Minister, Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones, insists he has a track record of supporting the project, despite being accused by Mr Owen of “sitting on the fence.”
He said: “I have supported Wylfa Newydd and done so consistently.
“I have also worked closely with Hitachi, Horizon, their supply chain, Bangor University and Coleg LlandrilloMenai to ensure that local people are trained to take up job opportunities when the plant opens.
“I’m also anxious to ensure there’s a long term legacy from Wylfa Newydd and other energy projects proposed for the island. These are exciting opportunities.
“I’ll work to establish a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Energy which will make Anglesey the place to be for developing new technologies. These plans are currently being worked on.”
The Conservative candidate, Tomos Dafydd Davies, has also pledged support for Wylfa Newydd as part of his “10 point plan” for the island, stating his view that both Plaid Cymru and Jeremy Corbyn were not unequivocal in their backing towards nuclear power.
“I will champion the Energy Island Initiative, including support for the Nuclear Industry and Wylfa Newydd development, delivering high-skilled jobs and investment to the island.” A BURGLAR who targeted pubs, hotels and cafés and stole more than £10,000 in a string of raids has been locked up for five years.
Martin Joseph Ward, of no fixed address but formerly from Holyhead, admitted raiding two hotels and a café during a spate of burglaries across north west Wales last autumn.
The 42-year-old also admitted stealing a safe from a flat above a pub in Beaumaris, and breaking into another hotel in the town intending to steal.
Ward also admitted trying to pass a fake £50 note and possessing similar fake money in a shop in Blackpool in April 2015.
The court heard Ward stole £5,000 from a filing cabinet at the Tal y Don Hotel, Barmouth, last October. Jade Dufail, prosecuting, said CCTV footage showed two men entering a staff only area, and the older of the two, Ward, entering the office.
She added a similar offence happened a month later at the Glan Aber Hotel in Betws y Coed. CCTV footage showed two men in the office area, with one of them opening a safe after searching for a key. They took £525 from the safe.
Ms Dufail said: “Staff at the Fisherman’s Café in Conwy found £4,000 was missing from a safe on November 20.
“Two men were seen to sneak into the office and later leave when CCTV footage was watched.
On Christmas Eve a safe was stolen from a flat above the Bold Arms in Beaumaris.
It contained £1,200, the court heard. She said the other man remains at large but police are hunting for him.
Ward, who is known to have used 28 aliases in the past, had 13 previous convictions for burglarly and had spent significant spells in prison.
Ms Dufail said staff at a Spar shop in Blackpool became suspicious of a £50 note presented by Ward and called police.
Officers later found five other fake fifties, including two clenched between his buttocks. Eight other fake £50 notes were found at his address in Blackpool.
Jonathan Austin, defending, said Ward had been drawn back into criminal behaviour by others.