‘ROCKET BOOST FOR ISLAND’
PM and FM in Holyhead to hail Freeport
A freeport on Anglesey can give “rocket boosters” to the island’s economy and help Wales exploit its “enormous” natural resources. Those were the messages from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford in Holyhead the day after the announcement (see story P3).
Anglesey and the Celtic Freeport in Milford Haven and Port Talbot have secured freeport status in a joint decision by Welsh and UK governments.
It will see UK Government provide up to £26m of non-repayable starter funding to each location - a massive increase on the £8m originally offered for a freeport in Wales.
Mr Sunak said it would “put a rocket booster” under plans on the island.
He also rejected any claim it would just redistribute investment in Wales, saying that the country is now competing with the whole world.
On claims the previous day from Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie that she had “fought a sceptical Labour Government in Cardiff ” over freeports Mr Drakeford said they had always wanted parity with the funding offered to ports in England, rather than the £8m first offered. He added: “We have now secured £52m.”
Mr Sunak said the port had already had enquiries from over 30 companies interested in coming and investing due to freeport status: “That should give everyone a real sense of confidence and optimism.”
Mr Drakeford said: “It is a really important day for Holyhead and a really important day for North Wales. Our economic future lies in being able to use those enormous natural resources, the wind blows in Wales, we are surrounded by the sea on three sides.
“Creating energy from our natural resources and being in the advanced guard of all that will mean that our economic future is secured.
“Anglesey has that ambition to be an energy island - what we have seen today is a really important step forward in that ambition and Wylfa could be another enormous piece in that energy island jigsaw.”
Mr Drakeford was asked if the freeport strengthened the case for a third Menai crossing [see story, left]. He said the possibility had never been completely removed.
He added: “More activity on the island becomes part of the case for further investment.
“I have to say a third Menai crossing is an absolutely major undertaking , no one player, either the council or the Welsh Government by themselves can make that happen.
“It would have to be a partnership between all the players to find the investment.”
The Freeport will extend 45km from Holyhead port, covering the whole of Ynys Môn, with four zones designated as tax or customs sites.
The proposed sites are Holyhead Port (including 213-acre former Anglesey Aluminium site and deep water jetty), Parc Cybi, Rhosgoch and M-sparc Science Parc.
The freeport aims to create between 3,500 and 13,000 jobs by 2030. Stena Line have said they hope it will help support Holyhead port which has seen its freight trade negatively impacted by Brexit.
Mr Sunak said: “Wales is at the forefront of so many exciting industries, whether that is carbon capture and storage or nuclear, there is so many exciting things going on here.
“Freeports across the world have demonstrated they do provide a springboard for economic development, they provide benefits to companies locating there, create jobs and opportunities to trade more.
“I am confident the freeport will have a positive impact on local communities.
“Freeports have been proven to work in lots of places around the world and in the UK.
“I feel very confident that when I come back and visit in the future we will see the port go from strength to strength. It is a real privilege to be able to put a rocket booster under those plans and turbo charge that growth.
“The freeport announcement is a good example of the Welsh Government and UK Government working constructively together to deliver for the people of Wales - to create jobs and opportunities.
“We are not going to agree on everything but where we can work together to deliver for people in Wales that is what I want to do and today is a good example of me delivering on what I said.”
Responding to a question on whether it would simply relocate investment and jobs, he said: “The freeports are designed to maximise extra investment that comes in, the evidence is that is what happens.
“In many cases now we in the UK and Wales are competing for investment globally with lots of other countries so that is what we need to do. We need to compete with all these other places and that is what we are going to do.
“The freeports in Wales mean we will have a very strong and compelling offer to international companies in telling them to come to invest and create jobs here as it is a great place to do business.”
Ian Hampton, Executive Director at Stena Line said: “This is a significant achievement for the region, and it is an excellent opportunity to drive forward sustainable economic
growth, green energy, jobs, and skills.
“We are delighted for the people of Anglesey and North Wales, and excited about the positive commercial prospects that can be turned into a reality.
“Work now begins to ensure we are capitalising on the unique tax and customs arrangements gained through freeport status, to transform Anglesey into a centre for global trading excellence.
“To realise its potential as a worldleading economic powerhouse by facilitating trade across Wales, the rest of the UK, and internationally - [...] bolstered by the easing of trade between the island of Ireland and the rest of the EU, via a revitalised GB land-bridge.”
Dylan J. Williams, Chief Executive at Anglesey council, said: “It will stimulate significant long-term job creation for local people. This will help keep our young people in their local communities, preserving our Island’s unique character, culture and the Welsh language.
“Freeport status will also provide significant impetus for the County Council’s Energy Island Programme - which aims to see the Island become a hub for low carbon energy research and development, innovation production and servicing - and support the Council’s ambitious target of achieving net zero by 2030.
“Today’s decision means we are better placed than ever to realise this vision.”