Aston Martin at St Athan – huge bribes plus end of aerospace fantasy

Aston Martin at St Athan – huge bribes plus end of aerospace fantasy - LOOK BACK at Welsh Gov and St Athan 

The Welsh Government devotion to aerospace - a large part military aerospace - has always been suspect on sustainable development and low-carbon pretensions. Its failure in business terms has taken far too long for them to admit.

The Welsh Government designated the St Athan Aerospace Business Park for aerospace activity ever since it took over the airfield site from the MOD and initiated the Red Dragon project from ~2000, under which the £100M “superhangar” was constructed. When Red Dragon collapsed, they promoted it as a “centre of aerospace excellence”, resurfacing the 1,800 metre runway and maintaining full airfield support (at ~£10million p.a.).

The Metrix scam for privatised tri-military training was then seized by the Welsh Government. Assembly leaders fell for it - remember the notorious picture of four Party leaders raising linked hands and squirting champaign, Ieuan Wyn Jones included. Only local resistance and fringe groups led by Cynefin y Werin (plus the PCS Union) held it up till the privatisation concept fell apart in 2011 under its costs and contradictions (http://antimetrix.blogspot.co.uk/). Figures like £43M and £100M lost and the DARA jobs (VC10 maintenance and refit) dwindled to zero with no replacement work found.
In 2013, the WG designated the Cardiff Airport and St Athan Enterprise Zone “focusing on the aerospace and defence sector”. Despite WG subsidies and a promotional team, they’ve had limited success in attracting Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) business to replace the VC10 refits - the costly airfield facilities remain hardly used. Cardiff Aviation, set up in 2012 to take over the VC-refit hangar (‘Twin Peaks’ hangar), is growing its business, but is tiny in the aircraft business. Avalon Aviation in light aircraft complained 2 years ago at the WG’s limited help and runway times (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-26692669)

The Aston Martin deal admits failure over the aerospace fantasy. They are giving Aston Martin the £100M superhangar and the enterprise zone subsidies (rate relief; exemption from S106 planning requirements, investment grants for initial years) as well as promising road ‘improvements’ (but not access to rail, the Vale of Glamorgan line promoted as part of the Cardiff Region ‘metro’). Aston Martin will take 90 acres, including some of the facilities currently in use at the site by the Ministry of Defence and specifically three main hangars. Construction work is planned to commence in 2017, with full vehicle production commencing in 2020.

The Wales Air Forum maintains an up-to-date website on St Athan developments (http://www.walesairforum.co.uk/st-athan) and comments:
“It is a shame that the super hangar cannot to be used for the purpose that it was built to maintain repair and overhaul aircraft and compliment the services currently available at St Athan and Cardiff Airport. Currently it is used as a storage facility for retired RAF C-130 Hercules and some military training”.

Aston Martin says Wales offered the best deal of 20 locations for their new factory. The WG refuses to say what bribes it offered, but writing off aerospace while giving over the aerospace ‘Enterprise Zone’ advantages are prominent. They will presumably write off the major runway and superhangar. They will negate their claims to sustainable development, for a luxury car-maker with an uncertain future.

Oct 2015 

Aston Martin to cut 14% of jobs - 

Aston Martin plans to cut almost 300 jobs as the lossmaking British carmaker seeks to address its historically perilous financial position.

The Warwickshire-based maker of the DB10 sports car — which features in the upcoming James Bond film Spectre — said on Thursday that a restructuring programme would affect as many as 295 of its 2,100 staff.

MARCH 2014 Ministers 'failing to deliver' on aerospace enterprise zone 

MOD St Athan 

We don't want a military academy in Wales

Wales 'let down' as defence academy once planned for Wales is to be built in Wiltshire

12 Dec 2013 07:52

Critics say the proposed defence academy project at RAF Lyneham is highly similar to the axed scheme intended for St Athan

The scheme to privatise military training planned for st Athan was flawed, a school for mercenaries, which as co coordinator of that successful campaign I am very happy to see it buried.

Yet Labour’s Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith said: “The cancellation of the defence academy at St Athan was a bitter blow..." 

take St Athan in a different direction...

Cant imagine any other way Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore, Labour)

'I think we can all agree on the overriding importance that this House places on the defence training needs of the whole of the UK armed forces tri-services. In a debate last week, we tried to get an answer to the question of what is the future of the defence training academy at St Athan after the news of its cancellation, but answer came there none. Can the Minister now give us an update with some clarity on what is the future for St Athan?'

Nick Harvey (Minister of State (Armed Forces), Defence; North Devon, Liberal Democrat)
'The defence training requirement across the three services is being reviewed in the light of the collapse of the project at St Athan. We are identifying possible sites either for tri-service training or taking the three services separately, and we will make an announcement when we have concluded that work in the spring.'
more here

CPO Inquiry Cover up

Delaying the results of the CPO Inquiry into the St Athan Defence College and aerospace business park is quite wrong. The Welsh Assembly government (WAG) claims to us (letter of 17 Nov.) that the MoD decision not to proceed with the Metrix scheme requires more time because of “complexity”.

Yet the situation is simple – WAG went to the Inquiry for Compulsory Purchase of land supposed to be ‘necessary in the public interest’ for the combined schemes. With Metrix dumped, their case has disappeared and any alternative scheme requiring CPOs would need another Inquiry.
Let’s remember, Metrix’s overblown scheme included a military museum, church and hotel, and was conceived for over twice as many trainees as eventually proposed.
Whatever future training MoD decides to bring to Barry, the CPO Inquiry does not apply. It’s quite wrong of officials to hold up the result until they can concoct a positive spin.
Because of the Red Dragon fiasco, the auditor told WAG not to commit spending relating to another MoD project, without guaranteed refund if the MoD pulled out. Yet officials spent at least £5 million** in this case on consultants, publicity and the Public Inquiry (QC and witness costs), based on the flimsy claim that the aerospace development was complimentary to the Training College. Even if the Minister has to take the rap in public, it’s his ex-WDA officials who are now covering up under the excuse of “complexity”.

welsh ministers wont release Jan inquiry report

Missing St Athan CPO inquiry report!! The inquiry took place in Jan 2010 - "The Inspector has submitted his Report to the Welsh Ministers. The Report will be made public, and you will be provided with a copy as you requested, when the Welsh Ministers have considered the matter and reached their decision" was the reply in July 2010 by Manning, Sarah (DE&T- EDG - SE & Infrastructure)

Extension of time
Further to my letter of 21 October concerning your request for information regarding the Inspector’s Report on the St Athan CPO, I am writing to advise you that we are dealing with your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and not under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Welsh Assembly Government considers that the requested information is “environmental” because the Inspector’s Report is likely to contain information on administrative measures that are likely to affect the state of the elements of the environment.
I am writing to advise you that the time limit for responding to your request for information under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, which we received on 20 October, needs to be extended.
The Regulations allow us 20 working days to respond to your request from the date of its receipt. However, it is occasionally necessary to extend the 20 working-day time limit for issuing a response. In this case, I regret that we must extend the time limit for responding by 20 days because of the complexity of the request. We are currently assessing the Ministry of Defence’s statement that St Athan remains an option for the location of future defence technical training with an announcement expected in Spring 2011; and what this means for the draft CPO.

I hope to let you have a response by 15 December.

Yours sincerely, Hitesh Vadgama South East Region Infrastructure Team

Department for the Economy & Transport

Welsh MPs want crooks Sodexo to run military training

Sodexo is the lead partner in the Metrix consortium

Can Taxpayers Afford Sodexo's Business Practices?
Sodexo's hundreds of millions of dollars of cost overruns in their contract with the US Marine Corps "raises serious questions," according to members of ...

Food service contractor Sodexo's unsavory practices are causing a stir.
This company recently paid a $20 million settlement for overcharging the State of New York. Sodexo's hundreds of millions of dollars of cost overruns in their contract with the U.S. Marine Corps "raises serious questions," according to members of Congress. New Jersey State Representatives have called for an investigation into the company's contracts with public schools.
With millions of tax dollars going to Sodexo, City and County Governments should audit their contracts with the company. We can't afford not to.

Despite the global financial crisis, Sodexo Inc. cleared $1 billion in profits last year, making the food service giant one of the most profitable in the world. But despite that huge profit margin, Sodexo workers earn as little as $8.27/hour, a wage low enough to qualify for food stamps. In response to rock bottom earnings and insufficient beneifts, Sodexo workers across the country have been speaking out and going on strike.

Over the last two weeks, workers have...

Weekly Workers' Round-Up: Sodexo & French Oil Strikes, Unions Get Out Vote ...
In These Times
By Alexandra Markowski Despite the global financial crisis, Sodexo Inc. cleared $1 billion in profits last year, making the food service giant one of the ...

Jeff Cuthbert gets no support for St Athan Military college from AMs

http://www.jeffcuthbert.com/ Last Lone Voice 4 the £14bn unaffordable/unjustified COLLEGE Jeff ..keep up to date ...haven't your friends Bell Pottinger or Chris Bryant not told you...its doomed...but still a  priority for you?

Just jeff cuthbert singing praises of the academy

DadlFer Short Debate ParchueinLluoeddArfog Respecting our Armed Forces Jeff Cuthbert New Lab However, while we always honour the sacrifices of the fallen and fully recognise those made by today’s serving troops, it is important that we also look at the wider role of the armed forces in modern-day society. We need to consider how we in Wales can provide for serving troops and veterans. The army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy all have a presence in Wales at locations scattered throughout the country: Cardiff, Newport, Brecon, Haverfordwest, the Isle of Anglesey, and the site of the proposed defence training academy in the Vale of Glamorgan. I am sure that we all hope that the plans for the academy go ahead in full, despite the inevitable pressures on public finances in the years ahead. Gush..gush... get me the sick bag....has his constinuency party got a donation from Bell Pottinger? Is he gushing for Raytheon for nothing??? The proposed training academy would provide a rich environment in which those who enter the forces can train not just for their combat careers, but also for post-service careers. ...... A new academy at MOD St Athan would give us the chance to draw all this together in one place, and we must do our bit to make sure that it goes ahead. Grovel ...grovel...Sad...

Gillan fails to support Metrix's DTI

As Cheryl Gillan has been a prominant supporter of the New Labour Metrix 314bn PFI project , her failure to mention it in her speech at the Tory Conference is highly significant.  It means the government is ready to dump Metrix!!

The two leaks to the BBC ("not this gargantuan PFI") and to the Guardian (likely to be scrapped as Metrix "has not provided what is required") have been preparing the ground. There are Welsh voices who want it scrapped - and are ready to celebrate!

St Athan military training academy in Wales is likely to be scrapped

Building an economy aircraft carrier could save £1bn, Cameron to ...The Guardian Tues 5 Oct 2010

......The Guardian has also learned that a £14bn PFI project – one of the largest ever – to finance a military training academy in Wales is likely to be scrapped as part of the strategic defence review, to be published later this month.


The new centre at a 1,000-acre site near Barry is intended to consolidate the three armed services' existing training facilities around the country, able to cater for up to 3,000 students at any one time.

The 30-year contract, awarded to defence firm Qinetiq and US firm Raytheon, covers staff, catering and maintenance. But the cost has already increased from the original estimate of £12bn to a figure closer to £14bn, while the government has made clear its dislike of PFI-style contracts.

One senior defence source described its future as "pretty bleak" and its fate could also be sealed at the national security council meeting. Officials say the work by the consortium – already costing the MoD more than £80m – has not provided what is required.

A spokesman for the consortium argued that it would be "illogical" to scrap the new centre because it would free up 1,200 sailors, soldiers and airmen involved in the military's existing training programme. The first aircraft carrier, which Cameron at the weekend indicated was going ahead, will initially be equipped with ageing Harriers. Each carrier was supposed to be equipped with 69 new Joint Strike Fighters, but the government could slash this number by at least half to make further savings. Each fighter is now estimated to cost at least £100m, a 50% increase, and the price is still rising.

Why has there not been open discussion and monitoring of this project by Welsh Politicians who promoted this project like lemmings even though the information was blatantly misleading.  The jobs figure was always a myth, although the 5,000 lie was repeated again and again by politicians and the media -the BBC news  just the other day.Do they never learn?


What of the Aerospace Business part of the St Athan development? Again Tens of £millions spent with no returns. The Red Dragon project, to provide MOD aircraft servicing and refits, collapsed with nothing to replace it. Gullible Ministers and over-bullish WDA. The “advanced aerospace business” park, promoted as “capable of generating several thousand skilled and high paid jobs in the long term” has dwindled to almost nothing.  Despite the recession and low-carbon economy policy, WAG at the CPO Inquiry in Janauary 2010 was still banking on expanding “aerospace” - a term covering military hardware – including exports from the likes of Raytheon and Qinetiq.

Information on latest WAG spending from a Freedom of Information Request 30th Sept
Perhaps WAG could stop wasting money -Total £5,306,772.81 - Spending on Consultants and companies on the gravy train!! Not including WAG staff costs etc.
St Athan Development Scheme *
Expenditure on External Advisers & Services - 1st April 2007 to 30th June 2010
Avionic Services , W.S. Atkins - Bay Associates - Capita - David Clements - Ecology -
Environment Agency - Enquinn Environmental - Enviros - Geldards - Halcrow - D & S -
Drivas Jonas - King Sturge - Bruton Knowles - Lewis & Lewis - MBP Marketing
- Mott Macdonald - MSS Consulting - OPUS - Parsons Brinckerhoff -
A. Porten - Production Support - Ramboll - Watts & Morgan - Welsh Water -
Western Power - White Young Green - Willdig Lamie - RG & RB Williams - 3Di

"Exclusive of Vat" Where Applicable.
* Aerospace Business Park & Defence Technical College Associated Assembly Government Costs

Question 3 In addition the same document talks of `in order to prepare and progress this Development Brief, a series of working groups has been established under a joint steering group consisting of Vale of Glamorgan officers, and representatives of WAG, Education and Learning Wales (ELWa), and Metrix. These Working Groups have been meeting regularly and have discussed planning, transportation, training, and quality of life issues in the context of the St Athan proposals.' Who are these representatives of WAG and who is paying them?
Response
These working groups were established during the early part of 2006 specifically to help with the preparation of the St Athan Development Brief and to support the case for St Athan as the location of choice for the MoD DTR programme. These working groups no longer exist.
Representatives of the Assembly Government who attended these working group meetings were either permanent senior officials from the relevant departments such as the Head of Transport or relevant officials from partner public agencies such as the WDA Project Director, WDA Head of Planning, WDA Project Manager, WDA Senior Roads Engineer, ELWA Head of Skills Development. These officials were paid by their respective employers, the Assembly Government, WDA or ELWA.
Some of these working groups included external professional advisers retained and paid by the Assembly Government to advise on master planning as outlined in Appendix 1.

Alun Cairns & St Athan Option

Alun Cairns wrote the St Athan option would save the taxpayer £500m over 30 years (MP’s column Barry & District News, September 23), but can’t give any evidence.  In fact, the £500m figure was first given by Metrix.  All evidence from the £3bn rise since Feb. 2008 or £2bn rise since Sept. 2008 is that the Metrix price is now a £bn or two higher than the MoD’s internal option.

• Alun wrote he believes the PFI has good military reasons.  Yet no-one can say what the training needs will be until the defence review is completed.  There are good reasons for NOT signing up to a contract when amounts and types of training will change substantially.   Training courses will be disrupted by the move, partly because staff will take redundancy rather than transfer. 
• Alun like most other Welsh politicians claim it’s highly important economically for Wales.  Yet it’s been highly exaggerated.  It’s a small College (2000-2500 places) and less investment than Cardiff’s new shopping development.  The adjacent aerospace development (the Minister wrongly claimed 'synergy') has collapsed, with firms foced to relocate on the site deciding instead to move elsewhere.
•  Politicians claim ‘overwhelming’ support from Welsh people.  Yet many local people are critical and the public inquiry showed well-argued cases for changes. 
• Alun will take along Cllr Jeffrey James, who got a lot of criticism for railroading the project through Committee.  As Chairman Cllr James organised a presentation just before the formal Planning Committee from which objectors were excluded, then pushed the Committee to a quick vote ('Rubber stamped' reported the Glamorgan Gem) without considering the alternatives proposed by local residents and Community Councils.

Like other mega PFIs in Defence procurement, this one will be shown to be excessively costly.  There is now momentum for integrating training across the services – savings will go ahead once Metrix withdraws.  Like the BBC’s informant, we see that St Athan may still have a role but “not the gargantuan PFI. And Peter Collins and BBC please stop repeating the lie that there will be 5,000 jobs.

Kirsty Williams hosts Bell Pottinger dinner for access

we don't have anything like the resources that Bell Pottinger for Metrix has Lib Dems and cash for access and St Athan Metrix PFI military training college. The Welsh Lib-Dems first supported this PFI project on the narrow grounds of "jobs" in Wales, but now Kirsty Williams is hosting a dinner at the Lib-Dem conference next week for Metrix to give this private company access to the Ministers, Dennis Anderson and Nick Harvey.
probable attendees at the Lib-Dem dinner on 19th Sept.
# Danny Alexander MP and Julia Goldsworthy (Special Adv)
# Nick Harvey MP
# Jenny Willott MP for Cardiff Central
# James McGrory and Polly MacKenzie (No. 10 Policy Unit)
# Chris Saunders (Special Advisor to Nick Clegg)

The two Ministers are engaged in the review of this £14 billion project, so dining with Metrix should surely be out.There’s every reason to avoid a 30-year long PFI. This one has inflated £3billion (up from £14 billion) in price during negotiation and shrunk in size from 6000 to 2700 trainee places. It’s clearly a case for fundamental review against alternative integration of training on existing MoD bases (the PCS union says it could be accommodated on two bases, or even one if the Defence Review cuts standing forces by 20 or 25%). Nick Harvey’s answer in the Commons 5th July “to change course now would undo a great deal of investment… and add considerably to the final cost” sounded like Metrix’s case and gives no confidence of a genuine review.

Private Eye piece disclosing the lobbying campaign targeted at Welsh Lib-Dems as a route through to the Defence Minister - which appears to have succeeded.

worry at massive price rise

Worry at massive St Athan cost rise‎
WalesOnline - James McCarthy - 20 Aug 2010
QUESTIONS have again been raised over the future of St Athan's defence training college after it emerged costs have rocketed by £3bn in two and a half years ...

Question over St Athan plan as costs rise £3bn

Question over St Athan plan as costs rise £3bn Article by James McCarthy Western Mail today It doesn't say that Chris Bryant MP continues to lobby for the Metrix PFI having been paid £2,500 so far by Bell Pottinger their PR firm. And he gets a free dinner - Chris is hosting a dinner for Metrix at his party conference!

New St Athan Defence Training College Planning Applcation

big planning application gone in 26th July to the Vale of Glamorgan Council on the
details for the DTC from Metrix (includes Raytheon) and Sodexo whose subsidiary Kalyx runs Harmondsworth
Seems they plan to rush it through in the office (delegated
powers) but Cllrs can call it to planning cttee (in Sept.).
Application number : 2010/00707/RES
Defence Technical College : Zone 6 Picketston South, MOD St Athan Metrix UK Ltd. and Sodexo Ltd.
Metrix UK Ltd. and Sodexo Ltd Details here

VoG officer to contact Mr. S. J. Ball 01446 704602 email SJBall@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Attachment Name Created Date Who are they planning to consult?...No Consultations found for this Application just a mention of neighbours on Picketston Close...!! This is a huge mistake given that it is an extravance the country can't afford and can not be justified1 See article from Eye below! 

PR loads of taxpayers money bonanza see table!
Metrix and sodexo give there address as 10, Great George Street, 2nd Floor, London. W1P 3AE
Application Form, Supporting Letter and List of Documents 27/07/2010

Planning Statement (incl. detailed explanation of submissions) 27/07/2010

Plan illustrating Reserved Matters Zones 27/07/2010

Location and Layout Plans 27/07/2010

Picketston Sport Building - Plans 27/07/2010

General Arrangement Plan 1 (including landscaping) 27/07/2010

General Arrangement Plan 2 (including landscaping) 27/07/2010

General Arrangement Plan 3 (including landscaping) 27/07/2010

General Arrangement Plan 4 (including landscaping) 27/07/2010

General Arrangement Plan 5 (including landscaping) 27/07/2010

Newspapers near the Blandford and Cosford Camp

Newspapers near the Blandford Camp: - it's future looks very dicey once it loses the training to St Athan.  This Royal Signals  base is close to the Minister Nick Harvey's constituency and  the MOD is sensitive to rumours of its closure. 
http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

Crucial to write to the papers so email for example Shropshire Star covers Cosford
StarMail – Letters to the Editor: starmail@shropshirestar.co.uk

Express and Star
Letters to the Editor for publication: letters@expressandstar.co.uk

Western Mail max 150 words
readers@walesonliine.co.uk

Cosford training base

A question in parliament on Monday has revealed that there is fresh doubt over the future of RAF Cosford as a military training base. The new coalition government has indicated that it has no intention of halting the plans to construct a defence super-centre in St Athan, Wales.

Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): If he will consider, as part of the strategic defence and security review, the merits of the Army returning to RAF St Athan rather than RAF Cosford. [5314]

The Minister for the Armed Forces (Nick Harvey): Plans for the defence training review package 1 project remain unchanged, and consequently it is still planned for 102 Logistics Brigade to relocate to RAF Cosford in 2018 under the BORONA programme. Like everything else in the defence world, that is subject to the strategic defence and security review. At this point, no decisions have been taken.

Mark Pritchard: Let me be clear: Shropshire has a long and proud history of working with the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, but does it make sense, given the presence of the excellent special forces support group and 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, and indeed the logistic hangars and a very long runway indeed at RAF St Athan in Wales, for 102 Logistics Brigade to return to St Athan rather than to RAF Cosford in Shropshire?

Nick Harvey: My hon. Friend is aware that there were two different proposals in the final analysis for the defence training review facilities: Cosford and St Athan. Those were subject to the most detailed scrutiny to decide which was the better fit for our defence requirements and the decision was that the defence training review should relocate facilities to St Athan. We believe that there is an obvious synergy between that and other work at St Athan, particular in high technology, and a lot of work has already gone into preparing for that move. To change course now, as he suggests, would undo a great deal of investment that has already been made and add considerably to the final cost.

The Express and Star report on the recent announcement:

Tuesday 6th July 2010, 11:30AM BST.

Fresh doubt was today cast over the future of RAF Cosford as a military base after the the new coalition Government signalled it had no intention of switching plans to construct a defence super-centre at an air force base in South Wales to the Midlands instead.

Campaigners’ hopes for a reversal of the previous Labour government’s decision have been dashed after Armed Forces Minister Nick Harvey indicated it was out of the question.

The Conservatives promised a review of the transfer if they won power.

Mr Harvey stopped short of guaranteeing the £13bn project currently under way at St Athan would get the green light from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition as part of its strategic defence review, which is expected to be driven by the need to scale back spending.

But said to “change courses” would “add to the final costs considerably”.

In addition, he was unable to shed any further light on shelved plans to move UK troops based in Germany to RAF Cosford – its only other hope of staying alive as a military base.

Plans for the movement of 2,600 troops from Germany to Cosford, due to start in 2016 under Operation Barona, have been delayed to 2018 – putting 400 jobs at the air field near Wolverhampton at risk.

Mr Harvey said the plans were still under review.

His comments came after Telford and Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard urged him to consider the merits of relocating some brigades to St Athan, while suggesting Cosford should remain the principal training centre for the armed forces.

Raising the issue during Defence Questions in the Commons yesterday, Mr Pritchard said: “Shropshire has a long and proud history of working with the British Army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

“But does it not make sense, given the presence of the extra special forces support group and the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment and indeed the logistic hangars and the very long runway indeed at RAF St Athan in Wales, to actually have 1 and 2 logistics brigade return to St Athan rather than RAF Cosford in Shropshire?” asked the Tory MP.

Work is under way to move the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE), currently at Cosford airbase near Shifnal, to Wales from 2014.

Mr Harvey said the decision had been made that St Athan was “better fit for our defence requirements”.

He went on: “We believe there is an obvious synergy between that and other work at St Athan, particularly in high-technology areas.

“To change courses as you suggest now, would undo a great deal of investment that has already been made and add to the final costs considerably,” he added.

Welsh Labour MP Chris Bryant said he was delighted the Government was going to “stick with St Athan”.

Read more: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/07/06/fresh-doubt-on-future-of-raf-cosford/#ixzz0t1VjGSBh

Ieuan Wyn Abuses his position

St Athan CPO Decision

When will the Inspectors report on the draft St Athan Compulsory Purchase Order be published and when will a final decision on the Compulsory Purchase order be made?

Bearing in mind that the whole St Athan project has been severely scaled down, which removes all logic for building a new college from scratch, evidence given to the public inquiry by MoD officials revealed the capacity of the proposed college to have been scaled back from 6,000 trainees to 2,700.

We were told on Monday 17 May that the Inspectors report had not gone to the Minister but on Thursday that it had indeed gone to the ‘Welsh ministers’ and ‘you will be provided with a copy as you requested, when the Welsh Ministers have considered the matter and reached their decision’ Who actually decides, Jane Davidson?

On Monday they told us that they didn’t know which minister to send it to! Are they are trying to cover themselves, as they can't decide on CPOs as necessary in the public interest if the DTC is not to proceed? Or has Persimmons been bought off, so avoiding a CPO decision?

It's unfair if the applicant Ieuan Wyn has seen the report - or participated in any decisions on when and whether to grant the CPOs. The applicant is abusing a privileged position!

Ieuan Wyn Jones Plaid Cymru (minister for the Economy and Transport) in a letter dated May 5 said  “under the Compulsory Purchase by Ministers (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 19994 (SI 1994 No 3264) an Inspectors report is normally published at the same time as the issue of a decision by Welsh Ministers on whether or not to make the order. The Inspectors Report on the draft Compulsory Purchase Order was received on March 26 and is currently under consideration. Although there is no specific time limit for such decisions to be made, we hope to publish a decision before the summer recess, once the Ministry of Defence has announced whether or not it is proceeding with the Defence Technical College investment at St Athan.  The decision and the Inspectors report will be published on our website at the appropriate time…

Is this in line with the rules? Rules that were drawn up by the Westminster Government 5 years before the establishment of the Assembly and some 10 years before the Freedom of Information Act. The public have the right to know. Shame on you Ieuan Wyn Jones! Keep Raytheon out of Wales! 

Notes

CPO - compulsory land purchase for access roads to a proposed tri-service college at St Athan.

Affordability

By the start of 2009, the project looked so unviable that Ministers had to quietly slip an “unnumbered  command paper” through the Commons providing Metrix with a £32 million risk guarantee to prevent the partnership going ‘belly up’. 

 Then Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for the Wrekin, obtained an MOD memo which stated “Currently there is a £1.3 billion affordability issue in the programme”. The programme referred to is the Defence Training Review (DTR) programme, the official name for the contract Metrix is bidding for.

The leaked memo indicates that central to Metrix’s problems is the price of borrowing money. Supporters  of PPPs, which usually involve bank borrowing, frequently refer to such deals as ‘more efficient’ than schemes funded directly through tax revenue. But the memo states Metrix has a problem “borrowing money at a reasonable rate”. The Swiss UBS bank has  down-rated its investment advice on Metrix, suggesting its a very high risk venture.

and another thing the people of Wales are not aware that the noise levels will be unacceptable to local residents or  the track vehicles ...tanks and such. Or that MoD added to the planning permission for a golf course and a field exercise area!.....could go on forever!!

just £1.4bn needed from banks

Metrix approaches banks for defence PFIPartnerships Bulletin The consortium delivering the Defence Training Review (DTR) PFI project is contacting banks to explore different ways of raising £1.4bn to fund the scheme. ...

Impact of Labours St Athan school for mercenaries

 As labour politicians line up to welcome the St Athan school for mercenaries the Echo reports Sat 20th March 2010 that the potential impact of the proposed Defence Technical Academywill be discussed this week by Vale of Glamorgan leaders - they will discuss a "service impact assessment" which recommends continued discussions with Metrix, WAG and MoD! Perhaps they should have done this before they gave planning permission. They haven't even assessed what impact will this have on Welsh culture or language!
 

Hansard ...St. Athan Defence Training College

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales

House of Commons debates, 17 March 2010, 11:30 am

Don Touhig (Islwyn, Labour)

What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on preparations for the construction of the defence training college at St. Athan.

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

May I begin by paying tribute to the excellent work that my right hon. Friend has done over a number of years and wish him well in his retirement?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed with the First Minister the significant economic benefits that the defence training college will bring as the single largest defence investment in Wales.

Don Touhig (Islwyn, Labour)

As we celebrate St. Patrick's day, we should all remember, of course, that St. Patrick was a Welshman born in the county of Gwent.

The defence training college will greatly increase the defence footprint in Wales, and will lead to the creation of large numbers of highly paid and highly skilled jobs, but will my hon. Friend confirm whether it is still the Government's policy to allow private companies to buy training packages from what will be a world-class facility?

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

I confirm that the Labour Government's policy remains unchanged: bona fide defence organisations will, of course, have the opportunity to use this excellent £12 billion facility. May I also emphasise that this is the single largest defence investment Wales will have ever seen? Labour Members are fully committed to it, and I only wish that Opposition Members were equally committed.

Mark Pritchard (Wrekin, The, Conservative)

If the Government press ahead with the construction of this defence training college, how will Ministers address the fact that a recent survey by the Public and Commercial Services Union suggested that 74 per cent. of civilian instructors will be either unwilling or unable to relocate from Shropshire to Wales because of the difference in house prices?

Wayne David (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Wales Office; Caerphilly, Labour)

The hon. Gentleman is a long-standing and consistent opponent of this exemplary defence establishment, which is most unfortunate. [Interruption.] Labour Members are full-square behind it. We recognise that this will be a huge investment for south Wales. [Interruption.] It will be a massive boost for the Welsh economy, providing thousands of jobs and, most importantly, first-class training for our armed forces.

John Bercow (Speaker)

Order. There are far too many private conversations taking place on both sides of the Chamber. It is very unfair to the Member asking the question and to the Minister answering it.

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History DEC 07

Can the Vale Cope with Defence Academy project without funds for new roads?

‘Act now on airport road’ – call by the Vale MP

Vale MP, John Smith, is calling for action to ease congestion at Culverhouse Cross and improve roads to Cardiff International Airport and the planned Defence Training Academy at St Athan. Mr Smith said: “While I recognise the need for a long-term solution in the form of a direct link from the M4 to the airport and the Defence Academy, there is need for immediate action. I shall be writing to the Welsh Assembly Government as part of its consultation on improving access to Cardiff International Airport, urging them to examine the possibility of improvements to the present airport access route from junction 33 of the M4 via Culverhouse Cross through north Barry and to the Airport and St Athan. “I believe there is an urgent need for a dedicated route to Barry skirting the western side of Culverhouse Cross. “This would provide vital breathing space while a new long-term solution is built from the M4 to the airport and the Defence Academy,” the MP insisted.

Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 07 December 07

STATEMENT BY THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

Title:
National Transport Plan
Date:
15 July 2009
By:
Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister & Minister for the Economy and Transport

I am pleased to present for consultation the National Transport Plan, the Welsh Assembly Government’s first comprehensive plan for delivering an integrated transport system.

Assembly Members will recall that last year I published the Welsh Assembly Government’s first ever Wales Transport Strategy: Connecting the Nation.

The plan which is presented to you today details the action we intend to take in line with that strategy – and it is based on three key principles:

- to meet the demand for enhanced mobility to enable economic growth and to improve the quality of life we seek for the people of Wales.

- to put transport onto a more sustainable and less carbon-intensive path
- and to use transport funding more effectively in light of increasing pressures on public finances

I am very grateful to the Ministerial Advisory Group, led by Richard Parry-Jones, for their advice on the transport network and I have accepted the vast majority of their recommendations.

Transport is a consistent thread that contributes to the success of many Welsh Assembly Government strategies. Newly acquired powers have given us the opportunity to use that thread to weave together the patchwork of transport provision across the nation, from roads to railways, and buses to bicycles.

But there is more we must do. We must work towards a decarbonised transport system, where people are able to choose healthier and more sustainable modes of travel. That is why we are aiming to increase the number of people walking or cycling. In our programme for Sustainable Travel Towns we will invest in new, and link existing, walking and cycling routes. Across the wider network we have plans to increase the provision of bicycle facilities on trains, at stations and in towns and cities.

We must develop our transport system to ensure that it continues to support economic prosperity, especially when we are faced with the global challenges of an economic downturn, like we are now.

This means a transport system that allows people to access services and removes barriers for people seeking jobs, particularly in less prosperous areas.

The Eddington Report stressed the importance of a long-term strategic outlook, which we have in Connecting the nation.

It also points out that investment should concentrate where economic success has concentrated demand, notably around urban areas, at international gateways and on busy inter-urban corridors where congestion, delay and reliability are already real issues.

In addition, we must also add to this our goal of spreading access to economic prosperity across Wales – particularly to the Convergence areas from the North West to the South Wales Valleys. We must ensure that areas and communities which lag behind because they have been hit by the decline of traditional industries can benefit from a resurgent economy.

The National Transport Plan sets out what we will be doing to firmly put us on the path to delivering the Welsh Assembly Government’s vision, over the next five years.

It is set out in a way that reflects the four main movement corridors in Wales – east-west in the north, mid and south, and north-south. As well as proposals that are relevant across Wales.

The proposals for the main corridors share two aims - to improve the reliability, quality and speed of rail and to improve journey times and safety on the main trunk roads

In the North West the plan outlines how we wish to address network and capacity issues on the A55 which will ensure more reliable journey times and help support the Môn a Menai regeneration programme. The work will include capacity for walkers and cyclists.

In the North East we will identify the most appropriate and sustainable transport solutions to deal with the pressures in the area between Wrexham Chester and Deeside.

Our programme of continued improvements to the North/South rail services will also improve east/west rail journeys in this region. We are committed to develop plans to enhance the capacity of the section of rail between Shrewsbury and Chester via Wrexham – enabling all north-South services to be routed through Wrexham.

Our aim in terms of North/South links is to increase dramatically the proportion of journeys that are made by public transport through improving rail travel and the TrawsCambria bus network. Over time we will see a better service, covering more communities in greater comfort.

Across Wales we have plans that will bring to an end the need for different tickets for different bus and rail journeys in Wales. A Welsh Transport Entitlement Card will offer people the ability to have one ticket for their journey.

In terms of North/South road links I have outlined my priorities in the trunk road programme – with improvements being made to the A470, the A487 and the A483 and the completion of the Ceredigion link road.

We are also examining opportunities for using “2 plus 1” lanes and passing lanes to improve North/South journey times, reliability and safety for cars, public transport, walkers and cyclists.

Improving connectivity in Mid Wales, including east/west links, is an important factor if we are to enhance the vibrancy of towns and villages in these rural areas.

Work will be complete next year to enhance the Cambrian Lines by providing additional passing loops. This will allow us to introduce hourly services between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. We will also develop plans to introduce additional services on the Heart of Wales line.

Many of the improvements to the main road arteries in Mid Wales were outlined in the trunk road programme but we will also work with the UK Government to deliver the intervention identified for the A458.

In terms of East/ West rail links in South Wales we are working with the UK Government and the rail industry to improve rail services, particularly the Great Western Mail Line between Swansea and London with the ultimate goal of securing the electrification of the line as part of a high speed rail network,

The Transport plan commits to increasing the capacity of the Valley Lines – with additional platforms, carriages and services. This is in addition to the £3.2 million we are contributing to the new park and ride spaces along the South Wales rail routes. We also intend to integrate the development of cycle routes through the South-East valleys.

In Newport we will complete both the redevelopment of the rail station and the improvement to Gaer junction to enable direct rail services between Ebbw Vale and Newport by 2011 – a crucial development for the Heads of the Valleys regeneration scheme.

Further West we will redouble the railway line between Gowerton and Lougher.

On the South Wales road network we will complete improvements to the A465 Heads of the Valleys road by 2020 adhering to the exact timetable I inherited. We will also start a programme of works to reduce journey times on the A40 and the A477. We will also fund the completion of the Port Talbot Peripheral Distributor Road to reduce congestion on the M4 and the Church Village by-pass.

As members know the Welsh Assembly Government wants to improve access to Cardiff airport. We have consulted on a number of potential schemes. Following a study on potential routes to the Airport which highlighted the limited economic benefits to the Airport itself, when compared to the cost of the scheme, and concerns around the environmental impact I am announcing we will not be taking forward these proposals. Instead we will invest in improvements to the A4226 Five Mile Lane which will help ease traffic movement at Weycock Cross and will improve the safety of the road.

I can also announce that we will improve public transport access to Cardiff Airport, by creating more frequent bus and train services connecting the airport and Cardiff – as well as providing more convenient and regular trains between Bridgend and Barry.

The National Transport Plan sets out how we will resolve issues of capacity, safety and resilience along the M4 corridor in south-east Wales.

In 2004 the Wales Spatial Plan identified the need to increase transport capacity along the M4 corridor. Subsequently the New M4 scheme was included in the trunk road forward programme. The estimated cost of the scheme at that time was £340 million and the intention was that it would be taken forward as a public-private partnership, built with private finance which would be recovered through tolling.

Today, the cost of constructing the new M4 scheme with VAT and potential inflaction is estimated to be in the region of 1 billion pounds which means that the project has become unaffordable. The business case demonstrates that tolling the new M4, whilst other routes remain free to use, would significantly reduce the economic, environmental and social benefits of the project. Tolling of the new M4 alone would not raise the funds necessary for the scheme, and tolling both roads, in addition to the toll on the Severn crossings, would damage the attractiveness of South Wales for investment. We have therefore decided that other methods of addressing the safety and capacity issues on the existing route and other routes parallel with it represent better value for money and we will not to be implementing the Relief Road scheme.

We do however accept the need to urgently address safety and capacity issues on the existing route and today I can announce that this work will be accelerated. Over the next two years we will seek to introduce a range of measures which will include:

• New rail facilities and stations within the Newport area and the introduction of Park and Ride sites throughout south-east Wales.
• Improvements and modifications to motorway junctions to ease the movement of local traffic whilst ensuring long-distance traffic flows freely.
• Enhancements and improvements to the local road network, combined with a focus on local travel planning
  

Through these measures we will seek to tackle congestion around the Tredegar Park area and reduce the traffic flows through the Brynglas Tunnels. We will also explore making considerable improvements to the steelworks access road and the Southern Distributor Road. In terms of improving safety, we will install concrete central reserve barriers and introduce a controlled motorway infrastructure between junctions 24 and 29.

My message to businesses and the wider community is that this Government is committed to reducing congestion, restoring capacity and reliability to this absolutely vital East/West corridor. And today we are pledging to do so in a way which is financially and environmentally sustainable as well as improving the resilience of the road with urgency.

Transport plays a crucial role in uniting our country and ensuring economic prosperity but we must get the balance right. We are no longer just being warned about climate change – we are starting to experience the impact. And the period of economic growth that many of us have enjoyed has ended with a jolt that we have all felt.

It is therefore important to be measured in our response.

This sustainable, integrated transport plan will contribute to economic recovery; it will help people get to jobs and access services and facilities where they might have struggled without a car.

The Plan will also help us to deliver our contribution to the environment, particularly our targets for emissions reductions and create a sustainable, integrated transport system fit for 21^st century Wales.

Bilingual copies of the National Transport Plan

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