Bridgend is “the number one priority” for the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal, the local authority’s leader has said, with efforts focused on trying to offset the 1,700 jobs which will be lost when the Ford engine plant closes.
Bridgend County Borough Council leader Huw David said creating the right conditions to encourage investment in the county was more important than ever.
Speaking at a full council meeting on July 24, Cllr David said: “The City Deal is prioritising Bridgend.
“I’m meeting with officials and business people next week looking at how we can secure inward investment into Bridgend because the clock is ticking in terms of the Ford announcement.
“Realistically we are facing closure.
“We hold out hope but I would not bet my house on Ford keeping that plant open in which case we have to do all we can to secure as many jobs as possible to offset that 1,700 – we will not come close but we’ll try our best.
“It is absolutely the number one priority of the Cardiff Capital Region that we get as many jobs into Bridgend in as short a period as possible in any route we can use.”
In a cabinet meeting the day before, Cllr David said the county was facing what was arguably the biggest shock to the local economy since the closure of the pits, with the Ford engine plant closing.
The £1.2bn City Deal has four strategic themes: skills and employment, innovation, connecting the region, regeneration and infrastructure.
It involves 10 local authorities and aims to create 25,000 jobs across the region and bring in £4bn of private sector investment by 2036.
