A Conservative MP is arguing that up to “15,000” jobs could be created in the western Vale and Bridgend county borough by bringing a freeport to the Waterton Industrial Estate.
Jamie Wallis MP, the MP for Bridgend, is campaigning for a freeport to be established on the site of the former Ford factory.
The site, on the border between Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan councils, would also be linked with Port Talbot as part of a joint bid.
Mr Wallis says that the Welsh Government (WG) is not supporting the idea. However, this was denied by a WG spokesperson, who said that Welsh freeports were not being offered the same deal as English candidates.
Mr Wallis raised the issue at Welsh Questions in the House of Commons recently and was told by Simon Hart, the Secretary of State for Wales, that the UK Government was in talks with Welsh Government about having a freeport in Wales.
Mr Wallis said: “At the moment, Welsh Government is not supporting the principle of having a freeport in Wales although they are being established elsewhere in the UK. I asked The Secretary of State whether the UK Government would press ahead and establish one in Wales without Welsh Government support if necessary and he said that they would – although they would prefer to work co-operatively with them. No site has yet been chosen.
“I will be pressing for the freeport to cover the Ford site linked to the deep water terminal at Port Talbot and also encompassing the Tata steel works. This would create an industrial power house. Bridgend and the Vale have hundreds of highly-skilled former Ford employees who comprise a ready-made pool of engineering workers for any incoming businesses.
“The deep water harbour is also a valuable asset that can be harnessed either to bring in raw materials and components or to export products. Port Talbot steelworks is a major national player and with the demand for steel likely to increase with the government’s levelling up agenda, the bid is a very strong one, although other areas in Wales will also be trying to get it.”
He went on: “It is important that Wales is not excluded from the benefits of having a freeport, which are being established in England and other parts of the UK. Each one is expected to stimulate the creation of 15,000 new jobs which will help us in Bridgend and the Vale mitigate the loss of the Ford engine plant and its well-paid jobs.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said that it remained open to the idea of having a freeport in Wales but insisted that there were financial differences: “Ministers have been clear that the Welsh Government cannot accept a proposal where a Welsh freeport would receive less financial support than the £25 million made available for freeports in England.”
Finance and Local Government Minister, Rebecca Evans added: “It would be entirely unacceptable for any Welsh freeport to receive a penny less than the £25 million the UK Government is providing for each freeport in England.
“It would mean a Welsh freeport would be immediately disadvantaged in comparison to English counterparts, or would require the Welsh Government to divert millions of pounds away from other priorities to fund a UK Government commitment.”
Bridgend County Borough Council Leader Huw David said: “It is very disappointing to note that we are still arguing and pushing for UK Government support on the loss of the former Ford site. I have repeatedly called for urgent action and investment, but we have yet to see a single extra penny of UK Government money allocated to Bridgend following the closure of the plant. The MP’s suggestion of developing a free port will need to be proven to be both viable, realistic and deliverable, and I am repeating my call for urgent action from all partners.”
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