Labour supports the city deal

WE would like to say how disappointed and bewildered we were at the actions and decisions taken by the Llynfi independent councillors at the council meeting of March 28.

They voted against continuing to support the Cardiff city region deal, which was eventually passed with cross-party support (other than Plaid Cymru members and a handful of other independents) where those members who voted in favour of supporting were seeing the bigger picture and realising the benefit it will have for the county borough going forward.

In essence they voted against job creation opportunities, training and skills development, better broadband, more houses being constructed and better transport links with rail and road for the region.

They put their own personal interests in front of those residents of the Llynfi Valley who they claim to represent.

They opposed the city region deal with a feeble excuse of it would not benefit the Llynfi Valley. This could not be further from the truth: it would bring prosperity and a more invigorating economy to the area with a current £1bn investment and the Westminster and Welsh governments supporting the deal financially as well.

Currently in the county borough of Bridgend 70% of those employed travel to the South East region. It is quite ironic that the only member of the Llynfi independents in full time work, and where does he work and travel to but Cardiff.

Can we therefore as Labour councillors assure the residents of the Llynfi Valley that we will continue to represent your best interests at all times.

In this case the independents are more concerned about being obstructive to the current Labour administration and this council in making any progress.

This is not the first time they have opposed regeneration projects: they are against almost everything outside of the Llynfi Valley, including schemes in Porthcawl as an example that would also benefit the people of the Llynfi Valley as our most popular tourist area of the borough.