Nearly two years after the Welsh Labour Government announced a Snowdonia Enterprise Zone, Welsh Conservatives say that they have uncovered documents showing that the zone has not attracted a single business.
Documents revealed under the Freedom of Information Act confirm that:
‘Snowdonia Enterprise Zone has not yet completed being developed sufficiently to attract investment.’
The Snowdonia Enterprise Zone was announced in May 2012 along with an Enterprise Zone for Pembrokeshire’s Haven Waterway, following the original five Welsh Enterprise Zones announced in September 2011.
Responding to First Minister’s Questions, Labour’s First Minister said he was confident that all seven Enterprise Zones will fair well in the coming year.
A recent Finance Committee report said Enterprise Zones were ‘something of a mystery’.
Enterprise Zones have cost taxpayers £125million through the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, £10million for business rate relief and a proportion of the £57million set aside for superfast broadband.
Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader of the Opposition, said:
“The Welsh Government has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on Enterprise Zones, so it is vital they work effectively and create jobs.
“It is astonishing that nearly two years after Snowdonia was confirmed as a new Enterprise Zone, not a single business has located there and it is still not yet in a position to begin attracting investment.
“Labour Ministers have serious questions to answer as to why there has been next to no progress on the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone in the past two years, in an area where jobs are needed and in an industry which has potential for growth.
“Enterprise Zones have the potential to attract considerable investment to Wales, create skilled jobs and make Wales a more prosperous nation, but Labour’s approach has been at best inconsistent.
“Labour Ministers are responsible for economic policy and if they are not satisfied with the progress of Enterprise Zones, they must intervene and address the shortcomings.
“Wales’ economic competitors in the global race will not sit around waiting for Welsh Labour Ministers to act.
“Unfortunately, Carwyn Jones’ complacency will fail to reassure businesses that the Welsh Labour Government is in any hurry to support economic growth and attract investment to Wales.”
