News

Council planning for cuts

THE LEADER of Gwynedd Council has warned that up to £4.5 million will need to be cut from services over the next three years.

Speaking during his visit to Porthmadog this week, Cllr Dyfed Edwards said, when asked if further cuts to services would have to be made: “We are currently trying to save £16m in our spending here in Gwynedd, over the next two to three years.

"Obviously there are going to be a few hard decisions to be taken, but we hope that three-quarters of those savings, 71 per cent, will be met by efficiency savings. We hope to safeguard essential services like education and social services."

He added that things may get even tougher after the General Election in May. He said: “What we get here in Gwynedd depends on what the Welsh Assembly gets, and, in turn, that depends what budget is proposed by Westminster. Prioritising will be essential after the next General Election.”

Cllr Edwards was in Porthmadog to attend the launch of the new bypass scheme and to meet with local businesses.

• For the full story, see this week's north editions of the Cambrian News