Date: 25/06/2018   |   Category - Economic Development and regeneration, News, Planning, Transport & Regeneration, Waste & Biodiversity

The WLGA has expressed disappointment at the announcement that the UK Government is not prepared to back the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.

In response to this afternoon’s announcement, WLGA Leader Councillor Debbie Wilcox (Newport) said:

“I am hugely disappointed with the UK Government’s announcement today. This will be yet another bitter pill for people of Swansea and Wales following on from the UK Government’s abandonment of the electrification of the Great Western Railway line between Cardiff and Swansea last year.”

“The tidal lagoon project would have been a massive boost for the Swansea City Region and would have played a crucial role in bringing a sustainable energy mix to the UK. The WLGA was a strong supporter of the project which had cross-party backing in the city, across the region and in the National Assembly for Wales. The lagoon was supported by independent experts and the Welsh Government was backing the project financially; it therefore remains unclear how and why the UK Government has come to this decision.”

“On the day when the UK Government is pressing ahead with plans to expand Heathrow Airport, Wales has been short-changed on a major infrastructure project of national significance. We are therefore seeking an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss the ramifications of this decision and to seek reassurances that Wales features in the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy”.