EUROPEAN CASH COULD UNLOCK NORTH WALES' POTENTIAL (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

EUROPEAN CASH COULD UNLOCK NORTH WALES' POTENTIAL

November 23, 2008 5:00 PM

Welsh Liberal democrats Eleanor Burnham AM and Prospective Euro MP Dr Alan Butt Philip during his visit to North Wales

Better use of European aid is essential if the North Wales economy is to weather the economic storms - that's the message from Welsh Lib Dem lead Euro MP candidate Alan Butt Philip who was invited to Mold by Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Eleanor Burnham.

Speaking on the visit to North Wales, Dr Butt Philip said European funding was key to ensuring North Wales avoided the worst of the economic downturn.

Dr Butt Philip said: "Large parts of North Wales are eligible for significant sums of European funding, but unfortunately, the centralising tendencies of the Labour-Plaid government in Cardiff Bay, means the money has been all too slow in being spent.

"That delay, combined with the worsening economic conditions mean it will be more difficult to find private sector partners to match fund projects. There is a real danger that North Wales will miss out, at the very time it is in greatest need of investment above and beyond what the government would do ordinarily."

Ms Burnham added: "The construction industry is in desperate need of a boost. The government response has so far been more about holding summits, and less about doing something. The European funding for which North Wales is eligible could make a real difference. It's vital that the government gets on with spending it, to boost the economy."