Welsh Conservatives today reiterated their support for rural communities, which have suffered under the tenure of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Speaking ahead of the party’s Opposition debate in the Assembly Shadow Rural Affairs Minister Brynle Williams AM said:
“Maintaining the competitiveness of rural communities is an issue that cannot be glossed over. Rural areas have an important role to play in Wales’ economic development and there is much potential to utilise the skills of people in rural communities.
“The Assembly Government’s failure to understand the reality of rural poverty and its one-size-fits-all approach to tackling poverty in Wales has neglected the differing and often hidden issues of poverty facing rural areas.
“In many cases, house prices are far above what is affordable, more than ten times the median wage in rural areas. This pushes many away from the communities that have nurtured them, and leaving behind a population of older or non working people.
“Welsh agriculture has also been hit hard under WAG stewardship. Between 1997 and 2007 the gross value added of Welsh agriculture fell 68 per cent. Across the whole UK, the drop was just 7 per cent.
“Furthermore, rural areas are handicapped by insufficient investment in infrastructure, hindering competitiveness. The UK Government has already committed to prioritising the provision of high speed broadband to rural Wales.
“The Assembly Government has been far more relaxed in its approach and has finally made some commitment to improving broadband provision and service, though this may come too late for some rural businesses.
“The Assembly Government’s disregard for rural communities must end. Far greater efforts are required to sustain and develop these areas than are currently being mobilised.”
