Jane Dodds hopes the ongoing development of a “Global Centre of Rail Excellence” in Onllwyn will boost employment in her region.
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that it is “quite an incredible place” - covering nearly 1,000 football pitches in size and built to test the speeds of a train.
Video from Senedd.tv
The Mid and West Wales MS said at the Senedd that it is “quite an incredible place” - covering nearly 1,000 football pitches in size and built to test the speeds of a train.
Video from Senedd.tv
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon, First Minister.
00:02If you've never visited the site at GCRA, it is quite an incredible place.
00:08Imagine a facility covering nearly 1,000 football pitches in size, built to test the speeds
00:16of a train.
00:17It is absolutely of global significance, and it's one of its kind on the international
00:24stage.
00:25But for me, it's the value it brings to the local community in places like Ystradgynlais,
00:29which I represent.
00:31Ystradgynlais has struggled with job losses from the town, like the TikTok factory and
00:36Dewhurst as well, yet the community is actually really resilient and healthy and vibrant.
00:44Lloyds Bank left the town in 2023, leaving no bank in the biggest town in Brecon and
00:53Radnorshire, despite Lloyds Bank making a mere £7.5 billion in profit that year.
01:00The Welsh Liberal Democrats recently secured a banking hub for the town, which will help,
01:05but I'd like to ask the Welsh Government what else can you do to ensure that there are really
01:10good links with the economic development of the GCRA and towns and communities around
01:15Ystradgynlais?
01:16Diolch yn fawr iawn.
01:17Well, thanks very much.
01:18And, look, we desperately need jobs in that part of the world, because you're quite right,
01:24we have seen an area which used to be very, very vibrantóand the TikTok factory, I remember,
01:29when I was first electedóseeing literally hundreds of people coming out of that factory,
01:35hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people, and, of course, all of that has been diminished.
01:40So, we do need something transformational, and I think this could be the ticket to that
01:45transformation, and it will be imperative that local communities get to benefit from
01:50that and get to work on and with the organisations that are there to develop it.
01:57Y Llywydd, diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Prif Weinidog.
02:01Diolch yn fawr iawn i'r Prif Weinidog.