Minister kick-starts 'Môn a Menai' blueprint

A pro-active blueprint for the future prosperity of North West Wales will make a real difference for the people of the region, Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, will tell the inaugural Board meeting of the Môn a Menai programme.

Mr Davies, who will chair the meeting at Bangor tomorrow (Tuesday, 20th February 2007) said that since he announced the programme last November, a great deal of work had already been undertaken that would shape the blueprint for the future.

He said:

    I instigated the Môn a Menai programme in order to establish a long-term economic development strategy for the area and to deal with the closure of the Wylfa nuclear power station.

    I’m pleased with the work that has been undertaken in the short time to date by the programme’s delivery team and the first meeting of the programme’s Board will allow us to take stock and move forward with our plans to pro-actively develop a strong economic hub linking both sides of the Menai Straits and to tackle the specific problems facing north and west Anglesey.

Mr Davies said a wide range of issues needed to be addressed to ensure the region’s economy was boosted and he reiterated the programme’s emphasis on being pro-active.

Millions of pounds will be invested into the area through the combined resources of the Welsh Assembly Government, the local authorities and other partners. The Programme will ensure a co-ordinated approach to this investment.

The delivery of the Môn a Menai programme is being taken forward by a delivery team from the Welsh Assembly Government with officers of Anglesey and Gwynedd Councils and overseen by the Programme Board which is chaired by the Minister and include high level representation from local authorities, the University of Wales, Bangor, and the business community.

The delivery team is developing an Action Plan for future economic development and will identify further sourcing opportunities for local companies involving both present operations and eventual decommissioning of Wylfa.

February 20 2007