Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has hit out at the Welsh Government for failing to include Conwy in its latest allocation of funding for flood repairs, despite the local authority’s repair costs being the highest of all the affected areas.
The Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, announced this week that local authorities in Wales hit by the recent floods will share a £1.6m fund to repair damage to safeguard the Easter tourist trade.
Ceredigion will receive £560,000, Gwynedd £400,000, Pembrokeshire £400,000, Anglesey £80,000, Swansea £80,000 and Monmouth £80,000, but Conwy will receive nothing despite it replying heavily on the tourist industry.
Darren said:
“It is unacceptable that Conwy will not have access to any of the £1.6m allocated, especially given that Conwy’s estimated repair costs of £5m are the highest of any local authority in Wales.
“This part of North Wales relies heavily on the tourism industry and, like the local authorities that she is supporting, needs to be back on its feet and ready for business as soon as possible.
“Conwy County Borough Council are doing all they can to repair and upgrade defences, but the damage caused by the recent storms was immense and putting it right is a huge operation.
“The Minister for Natural Resources, Alun Davies AM has set aside £2m for the whole of Wales to support local authorities in meeting the costs associated with the recent floods, but, as I have already said, Conwy’s bill alone is £5m.
“The Council needs support, but unfortunately it is not getting it from the Welsh Labour Government and I will be raising this with Ministers.”
