News Archive

Upset as 40 jobs leave Machynlleth

A MACHYNLLETH councillor has hit out over “broken promises” as 40 jobs are leaving the town to be relocated in Aberystwyth.
County councillor Michael Williams claims promises have not been kept to improve transport links to Aberystwyth to encourage workers to carry on living in Machynlleth despite job transfers.
Staff from Visit Wales, the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO), and the Countryside Policy Division, will be transferred over to the new Aberystwyth building in Ffordd Parc-y-Llyn.
The new office will house up to 535 staff and provide a government base to serve people in mid and west Wales.
Cllr Williams said: “These are good quality jobs we are losing and it’s a huge shame.
“Certainly the people will be moving to Aberystwyth to the new office, but in future years as these positions become vacant, they won’t be in Machynlleth and they are not likely to be filled by Dyfi Valley people.
“Those jobs will more than likely be filled by those from the area so they won’t have to travel 40 miles daily. This is a huge loss for Machynlleth and the decision was very short-sighted.
“I can recall the town council being told that road and rail improvements would be in place by the time the office opened, making it a smoother journey for those in the Dyfi Valley to work in Aberystwyth.
“If that was the case, why can’t they bring more jobs to Machynlleth and get people from Aberystwyth to travel here instead? Although to my knowledge they have not improved the railway nor the Glandyfi stretch yet.”
The Welsh Assembly has said that the establishment of the new offices in Aberystwyth would demonstrate their commitment to the economy of the area and it was hoped they would attract other investors.
A Welsh Assembly spokesperson said: “Around 40 posts are scheduled to move from Machynlleth into the new Aberystwyth office in November including posts from Visit Wales, WEFO and Countryside Policy Division. The small number of staff who chose not to relocate to the new office have already been found alternative posts in the Assembly or in the wider civil service.
The spokesperson added: “The Assembly is progressing the Glandyfi road scheme as quickly as possible with a view to starting work early next year if no difficulties are encountered.
“The National Transport Plan makes a commitment to deliver an hourly service between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury (which includes Machynlleth) by 2011. We are in discussions with Arriva Trains Wales to to deliver this.”

• 11 November 2009  |  News Archive

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