Councillor Dyfed Edwards said:

“Gwynedd Council is committed to delivering a vibrant economy and to create well-paid employment for local people in rural areas of the County. 

“Recent council-led initiatives to deliver on this agenda include the plans to establish a national Sailing Academy in Pwllheli, to employ around 40 people at our new Galw Gwynedd Customer Contact Centre in Penrhyndeudraeth, to develop a vocational skills and enterprise centre to support young people in Meirionnydd and Dwyfor and to prepare a regeneration strategy for the Blaenau Ffestiniog area.  

“However, much more needs to be done, and Government action and intervention is essential if we are to secure a viable future for those rural communities that have suffered considerably as a result of widespread long term de-population and poorly-paid jobs. 

“Whilst the One Wales Assembly Government is to be commended for making the delivery of a prosperous Wales a key priority, it is vitally important that rural areas like Dwyfor and Meirionnydd are integral to this national vision for economic regeneration and are not left on the economic sidelines.

“I have written to the Government’s Regeneration Minister to highlight this crucial matter and have urged him to recognise the unique status of Dwyfor and Meirionnydd as areas in urgent need of specific and targeted government economic support which would compliment the work that is being undertaken by Gwynedd Council in both areas.”