Llanelli AM, Lee Waters, has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement of a £223 million boost to Wales’ rural communities as an assurance that Gwendraeth Valley businesses will not be forgotten about after Brexit.
The funding targets key areas that will help rural communities to be more resilient after we withdraw from the EU.
Rural areas will benefit from the fund through schemes such as the Farm Business Grant, Glastir Advanced, Food Business Investment Scheme, Co-operation and Supply Chain Development, Glastir Woodland Creation and Rural Community Development Fund.
Lee Waters AM said:
“I am very worried about the impact on rural areas from pulling out of the EU. If it’s not properly handled farming will be enormously affected and this will have a knock-on consequences for the whole community. Since my election, I’ve met with numerous business owners in the Gwendraeth – large and small – and the uncertainty around Brexit is on everyone’s mind.”
“This announcement by the Welsh Government is an attempt to try and help in the short term while we work on a longer term plan
Lesley Griffiths AM, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, said:
“In this investment, we are committing the entirety of the remaining funding under the RDP, worth nearly a quarter of a billion pounds. I hope this provides reassurance to Wales’ rural communities who have benefited greatly from the wide range of programmes under the RDP.”
“We still don’t know what the future landscape will look like, but we are pressing the UK Government to honour the commitment made during the referendum campaign that we will not lose out on money we would otherwise have received from the EU. “
