North Wales Slate Job Cuts - Eleanor Burnham comment (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

North Wales Slate Job Cuts - Eleanor Burnham comment

March 20, 2007 2:41 PM

Eleanor Burnham AM today responded to a statement from Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies on the loss of 175 jobs from Alfred McAlpine PLC, the parent company of three individual slate quarries in Gwynedd.

Jobs will be lost from the Cwt y Bugail quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog, the Penrhyn quarry in Bethesda and at another quarry in Ffestiniog.

Speaking as the Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Ms Burnham said: "Our sympathy goes out to those families and individuals who will be severely affected by these job losses.

"I welcome the Minister's assurances that his officials will be in close contact with those affected by the losses, and would urge him to support schemes for retraining and re-employment for those who are now in need of new jobs.

"I am pleased to hear that the Minister has been in close contact with the companies involved in these cuts. What we need the government to do now is ensure that the long term future of the slate industry in Gwynedd is secure, as there are another 250 jobs still left in the county.

"I would have thought that the government's feasibility report into upgrading the Conwy Valley rail line should now be considered as a matter of urgency considering the possible boost in business for the industry this could bring to the area.

"I was also pleased to hear the Minister say that there is a possibility of using Freight Facilities Grants for supporting the transportation links around this industry, particularly if this means bolstering the rail infrastructure of the region.

"However, it is vital that the continuing work on the A470 in the area should not be used as a get out clause by the government in this situation. If at all possible we should be seriously looking at transporting freight and slate waste by rail, rather than by road, if we are to see truly sustainable industry throughout Wales."

Notes/Nodiadau:

• Ms Burnham was responding to today's Plenary statement by Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies on the Alfred McAlpine Plc job losses in three slate quarries throughout Gwynedd.