Serious allegations have been brought to my attention about the future staffing levels of the new Welsh Assembly Office Block at Llandudno Junction.  Claims of hundreds of jobs being created at the site have been made by Labour and Plaid politicians on a regular basis.  This is a typical example as reported in the Daily Post.

The truth has always been significantly different with many of the so called jobs created at Llandudno Junction being no more than relocation of staff from other North Wales offices at Caernarfon, St. Asaph, Mold and Wrexham.  David Jones MP has already highlighted the fact that all relocated workers will be given £2,500 each for moving to the new offices although for many the new location will save them and time and money every day!  If 75% of the promised jobs at Llandudno Junction were actually re-locations the cost of this payment to staff would be around £1.1m.  Says a lot about the priorities of the Welsh Assembly.  They impose cuts on the budgets of Special needs schools but are happy to spend £1.1m of our money to re-locate staff many of which will SAVE money as a result of the move.

However, the above issues, whilst serious, pale into insignificance compared to the allegations forwarded to me about the number of new positions that will be created at the offices in the Junction.  Despite all the promises, despite the statements of our current MP and AM (one from Labour and one from Plaid) my understanding is that the number of new positions at Llandudno Junction will be, wait for it, 1!  Yes, one.

I will be writing to the Deputy First Minister tomorrow morning to ask for clarification of this issue but I suspect that I have the truth on this heartless lie which has been peddled to local people by both Plaid Cymru and Labour and their devious partnership government in Cardiff Bay.

Day after day when I canvass in the Aberconwy constituency people tell me that Cardiff has ignored North Wales ever since the Assembly came into being.  The development of the offices at Llandudno Junction was supposed to be an example of Assembly Jobs coming to North Wales.  Not true from what I understand.

I will keep you informed of the response from the deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones.  As for Gareth Jones AM – he promised to save Dolgarrog and failed.  He confirmed in several meetings that jobs would come to Llandudno Junction through this investment.  If my facts are correct he should consider his position.

Guto

PS - This is the letter.  It vwas sent in Welsh but the main questions being asked are as per the above posting.

22 Mawrth 2010

Ieuan Wyn Jones AC

Dirprwy Brif Weinidog Cymru

Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru

Y Senedd

Bae Caerdydd

CF99 1NA

Annwyl Mr Jones,

Par: Swyddfeydd Llywodraeth y Cynulliad Cyffordd Llandudno – Llythyr Agored

Fel y gwyddoch y mae’r addewidion cyhoeddus a wnaethpwyd gan swyddogion a gwleidyddion o fewn y Llywodraeth y Cynulliad wedi addo’n gyson y byddai’r swyddfeydd newydd yng Nghyffordd Llandudno yn arwain at greu rhwng 580 a 600 o swyddi.  Er gwaethaf y modd y cyflwynwyd y wybodaeth yma yr oedd yna lawer ohonom ar lawr gwlad o’r farn y byddai’r cyfanswm o swyddi newydd yn llawer llai - oddeutu 100 i 120 efallai.

Serch hynny, sioc enbyd oedd derbyn gwybodaeth y dydd o’r blaen sy’n awgrymu na fydd yna fwy nag un swydd o’r newydd yn dod i fodolaeth o ganlyniad i agor y swyddfeydd newydd yn y gogledd.  Yn yr un modd y mae’r wybodaeth sydd gennyf hefyd yn awgrymu’n gryf na fydd yna lawer mwy na 400 o staff yn y swyddfeydd hyn o gymharu gyda’r 580 - 600 addawyd.

Yn wyneb y datganiadau cyson sydd wedi cael eu gwneud gan eich Llywodraeth yn nodi cyfraniad sylweddol y datblygiad hwn i adfywio Cyffordd Llandudno a gogledd Cymru mater o bwys bellach yw derbyn cadarnhad penodol o’r hyn sy’n debygol o ddigwydd.

Gofynnaf i chwi felly, a hynny’n fuan iawn, i gadarnhau'r canlynol;

Sawl swydd newydd fydd yn dod i fodolaeth gydag agor swyddfeydd newydd y Cynulliad yng Nghyffordd Llandudno?

Beth fydd y niferoedd staff disgwyliedig yn y Swyddfeydd hyn?  A fydd y cyfanswm yn llai na’r 580-600 addawyd gan eich llywodraeth ac os felly pam?

Y mae’r datblygiad hwn wedi ei weld yn lleol fel cyfle gwych i adfywio Cyffordd Llandudno.  Y mae hynny i raddau helaeth yn adlewyrchu'r addewidion a wnaethpwyd gan eich Llywodraeth.  Y mae’n fater allweddol felly ein bod yn cael gwybodaeth gywir am fwriadau eich Llywodraeth a hynny ar fyrder.

Yn gywir,

Guto Bebb

Ymgeisydd Seneddol Plaid Geidwadol Cymru, Etholaeth Aberconwy

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