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Swansea's SA1 marina surrounded by uncertainty | Swansea's SA1 marina surrounded by uncertainty |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Uncertainty surrounds the future of a planned £19m marina in Swansea after the development stalled. | Uncertainty surrounds the future of a planned £19m marina in Swansea after the development stalled. |
The 400-berth marina at the Prince of Wales dock was proposed to be the centrepiece of the SA1 waterfront regeneration. | The 400-berth marina at the Prince of Wales dock was proposed to be the centrepiece of the SA1 waterfront regeneration. |
But the Welsh government said money ring-fenced for the project had been redistributed elsewhere in Wales. | But the Welsh government said money ring-fenced for the project had been redistributed elsewhere in Wales. |
South Wales Chamber of Commerce said the marina might not be the "right priority" for public money. | South Wales Chamber of Commerce said the marina might not be the "right priority" for public money. |
However, Coun Chris Holley, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Swansea council, and former leader of the authority, said the city had been "snubbed". | However, Coun Chris Holley, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Swansea council, and former leader of the authority, said the city had been "snubbed". |
He claimed that business space and apartments at SA1 - a major redevelopment of the city's former docklands - had been sold with the proposed marina as the centrepiece. | He claimed that business space and apartments at SA1 - a major redevelopment of the city's former docklands - had been sold with the proposed marina as the centrepiece. |
'Shocked' | 'Shocked' |
The SA1 development overlooks the Prince of Wales Dock, near Swansea's current marina, and is being developed for commercial, residential and leisure use. | The SA1 development overlooks the Prince of Wales Dock, near Swansea's current marina, and is being developed for commercial, residential and leisure use. |
A second marina and a sea lock were also planned for the waterfront but work stalled in 2008 with the credit crunch. | A second marina and a sea lock were also planned for the waterfront but work stalled in 2008 with the credit crunch. |
Mr Holley said he was "shocked" to discover that the Welsh government had spent the money ring-fenced for it from the sale of land in the area. | Mr Holley said he was "shocked" to discover that the Welsh government had spent the money ring-fenced for it from the sale of land in the area. |
He said after he and Lib Dem AM Peter Black enquired about the project, they received a letter from business minister Edwina Hart which confirmed that the ring-fencing was stopped in 2008, with the money instead being redistributed elsewhere in Wales. | He said after he and Lib Dem AM Peter Black enquired about the project, they received a letter from business minister Edwina Hart which confirmed that the ring-fencing was stopped in 2008, with the money instead being redistributed elsewhere in Wales. |
"There's uncertainty about the marina future," said Mr Holley. | "There's uncertainty about the marina future," said Mr Holley. |
"I don't think it will be going ahead in the near future." | "I don't think it will be going ahead in the near future." |
Peter Black AM told BBC Radio Wales he felt Swansea was "becoming the poor relation" to Cardiff. | |
He added: "In terms of the amount of money being spent in Cardiff Bay - which must amount to £100m or more - compare that to what's being spent down in Swansea Marina and SA1, it is a pittance, and quite frankly Swansea is being second best here." | |
'Wider picture' | 'Wider picture' |
Graham Morgan, director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said he could understand if the Welsh government had re-prioritised the use of the money in the current financial climate. | Graham Morgan, director of the South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said he could understand if the Welsh government had re-prioritised the use of the money in the current financial climate. |
"When you step back from it, for a marina to work you have to be convinced that someone will buy a boat and will moor it there," he said. | "When you step back from it, for a marina to work you have to be convinced that someone will buy a boat and will moor it there," he said. |
"That's the biggest thing at the moment - boats are luxury items. | "That's the biggest thing at the moment - boats are luxury items. |
"So it's perfectly feasible that right now that isn't the right development." | "So it's perfectly feasible that right now that isn't the right development." |
He said he did not believe the Welsh government was "snubbing" Swansea, pointing to a number of developments that were currently boosting the city. | He said he did not believe the Welsh government was "snubbing" Swansea, pointing to a number of developments that were currently boosting the city. |
"You have to look at the wider picture and not look at the marina in isolation," he added. | "You have to look at the wider picture and not look at the marina in isolation," he added. |
"There's a lot going on, such as the new university campus being built, the electrification of the rail line to Swansea, the possibility of Swansea becoming a city region, the high performance computer system that's being installed in the Dylan Thomas Centre which will link together technology and academia." | "There's a lot going on, such as the new university campus being built, the electrification of the rail line to Swansea, the possibility of Swansea becoming a city region, the high performance computer system that's being installed in the Dylan Thomas Centre which will link together technology and academia." |
'Significant support' | 'Significant support' |
The Welsh government said that since 2008, only £2.9m has been raised from income by sales of land at SA1. | The Welsh government said that since 2008, only £2.9m has been raised from income by sales of land at SA1. |
In the same period, £9.3m has been spent on the development, it said. | In the same period, £9.3m has been spent on the development, it said. |
"This decision to cease the ring-fencing of budgets within SA1 was taken in 2008 by the previous (Labour/Plaid Cymru) coalition administration," a spokesperson said. | "This decision to cease the ring-fencing of budgets within SA1 was taken in 2008 by the previous (Labour/Plaid Cymru) coalition administration," a spokesperson said. |
"The business, enterprise, technology and science department has a clear process in place to allocate funding to projects as they are brought forward and has already provided significant support to Swansea including £2m in March of this year to acquire Oldway House to facilitate the city centre regeneration. | "The business, enterprise, technology and science department has a clear process in place to allocate funding to projects as they are brought forward and has already provided significant support to Swansea including £2m in March of this year to acquire Oldway House to facilitate the city centre regeneration. |
"In addition Welsh government investment in SA1 over the last four years has been £9.3m, which exceeded sales income in the same period by almost £6.4m." | "In addition Welsh government investment in SA1 over the last four years has been £9.3m, which exceeded sales income in the same period by almost £6.4m." |