Herewith below a link to Conservatives Spring Conference held in Cardiff.....where it was announced that in England, EZ's or Enterprise Zones are likely to be set up in perhaps 10 locations.
The Thatcher Government is credited with setting up EZ's in the 1980's to assist bring back life "end on era one industry town areas" such as Swansea, Corby, Dearne Valley previously dominated by steel and coal industries.
London's Docklands also became one of the so called "Simplified Planning Areas" that stimulated activity particularly growth through investment.
See EZ proposals here: BBC Website 5th March 2011
But will the Con Lib Government have the power to impose EZ's in Wales?
I previously commented here that "Growth is the key to prosperity" and hence the latest progressive announcement by the Con Lib Government. However, can the Con Lib government introduce EZ's in Wales as these plus a raft of measures are necessary to return to prosperity for all.
Furthermore, Anglesey would benefit enormously if it became a Simplified Planning Zone "SPZ" which would unlock the current "planning lottery" of Anglesey which rather depends upon "who you are" to determine your chances of success would be swept aside for commercial property.
Let me explain, within an SPZ, the rules are just a loose framework, all that is required is "building regulations" hence allowing buildings to just be built - circumventing the entire charade of development control and planning committee approval process.
Although the SPZ in reality relates to a precise defined area and commercial uses only, if, for instance, Holyhead and Llangefni had this status, then it would result in a construction boom in an area held back by WAG, indecision and flawed forward planning for the past decade.
I shall be writing to IWJ (assuming he has woken up by the election) and Cheryl Gillan to establish whether EZ's and SPZ is possible for two areas in Anglesey.
EZ's, SPZ's and other "tools" such as business start up assistance are required to get Wales and particularly Anglesey on it's feet.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones AM (IWJ) has been in power long enough, his "intray" is populated by many companies eager to locate in Wales, moreover Anglesey however IWJ seems to have just ignored perfectly good proposals, favouring to "keep things as they are" which would seem to be a deliberate Plaid Cymru policy......but is nevertheless denying everyone of future jobs, homes and prosperity as IWJ has contributed to putting Anglesey in the economic abyss.
Ieuan Wyn Jones AM not only ignores his intay of "companies wishing to locate in Anglesey", thereby denying the working population of employment be they of Welsh or English origin;but he also ensures THE PEOPLE OF ANGLESEY NEVER EVEN GET TO KNOW ABOUT IT...!!
How do we know which companies "wanted to locate in Anglesey" but were ignored - because the confidentiality aspect of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is used to prevent FOI requests yielding anything damaging.
As the Economic Minister, IWJ has contributed to ensuring companies are turned away from Anglesey.
The electorate always vote with their feet, its about time they did some walking!