Representatives of community groups and local businesses across Anglesey joined with councillors and education providers last week to celebrate the Welsh and UK Governments’ recent decision to grant Anglesey freeport status.
Governing partners of Anglesey Freeport – Stena Line and Isle of Anglesey County Council (IACC) – welcomed local representatives to Holyhead Port in order to thank community leaders for their unwavering support for the freeport. More than 1500 people across Anglesey pledged their support for the region’s freeport, which was formally announced during a visit by Rishi Sunak and Mark Drakeford in March.
The Freeport will help to generate greater economic development across the North Wales region, providing local people with new, high skilled employment prospects. The governing partners are also focused on protecting the environmental and cultural heritage of Anglesey, bolstering the Welsh language.
Anglesey Freeport will now set out a full business plan to the Welsh and UK Governments. Stena Line and IACC have been working with local education providers to ensure local residents gain the training and skills needed to take advantage of opportunities the Freeport will create, and they will set out these plans shortly.
Ian Davies, Head of UK Port Authorities at Stena Line, said:
“On behalf of Stena Line I am delighted to welcome local representatives to Holyhead Port, and stress our gratitude for their support in ensuring Anglesey Freeport becomes a reality. Without the support of the community of Anglesey, this opportunity would simply not be possible, and I’m looking forward to continuing our close working relationship with local leaders as the Freeport heads towards the next stage of development.”
Chief Executive of Isle of Anglesey County Council, Dylan Williams, added:
“I’m enormously proud of the way in which local representatives, stakeholder organisations, elected members and the wider community of the Island and North Wales have united behind Anglesey Freeport. The bid has also been championed in Westminster and Cardiff by the activity of Virginia Crosbie MP and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS. Thanks to their support, we now have an enormous opportunity to create a freeport which can deliver for the people of North Wales, provide employment and support the growth and success of our Energy Island Programme. We know there is much work to do, and we look forward to working together to ensure Anglesey Freeport reaches its full potential.”
