Following a letter from Llanfyllin Town Council, Russell George, Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, has asked the Minister for Economy, Edwina Hart AM, to intervene to ensure that the barriers to inward investment are alleviated and incentives are provided to attract new manufacturing businesses which will provide additional employment opportunities and boost the local economy.
During questions to the Minister, the AM told the Minister that he had been told that empty Welsh Government-owned industrial units in the area are being advertised for £7000 per annum, double the price of privately owned units which are occupied.
After questioning the Minister, Mr George said:
"There are several manufacturing businesses who would like to relocate to Llanfyllin and other towns in North Powys but are facing barriers which I would like to see alleviated, with incentives to relocate being offered from the Welsh Government.
"In these circumstances, it would surely be more appropriate for the Welsh Government to ensure that its units are competitively priced so that manufacturing businesses are encouraged to invest in the area while contributing to the public purse at the same time."
"Therefore, I’m pleased that the Minister, in her response to me, has agreed to look at the issue of empty units and how the Welsh Government can be more flexible in its approach to set businesses free to create jobs and contribute to the local economy."
Peter Lewis, County Councillor for Llanfyllin added:
"Llanfyllin has so much to offer and many companies want to locate their businesses here from across the UK, but at the moment, we don’t have a level playing field.
"I have recently had discussions with a business which would like to move to the area from Bradford but has cited the cost of Welsh Government-owned industrial units as a key barrier which is deterring them from relocating.
"This is actively discouraging businesses from relocating to Llanfyllin and it is essential that the Welsh Government intervenes to address the concerns of Llanfyllin Town Council."