Major jobs boost (From Barry And District News)

Major jobs boost

THOUSANDS of jobs in Barry look increasingly secure after the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) completed a deal for more than 800 acres of land at RAF St Athan.

Funded by the National Assembly, the arrangement paves the way for plans to create an aerospace business park capable of sustaining several thousand highly-skilled posts at the base.

The project aims to benefit from spin-off opportunities from the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) £77 million investment in a new aircraft maintenance hangar run by the Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA) facility.

The news comes after the MoD distanced itself from speculation that it was considering ditching its Red Dragon investment commitment, which we reported in the News on July 24, 2003.

Economic Development and Transport Minister Andrew Davies said: "This deal is a huge leap forward in our drive to develop and aerospace centre of excellence at the St Athan site."

The project will secure the 2,000 jobs of people already employed by DARA to service the military aircraft and will give the facility a boost in competing for future work from civil aviation customers.

The remainder of the St Athan site not taken up by the superhangar is seen by the Welsh Assembly and the WDA as a "golden opportunity" to create an aerospace park.

A number of leading companies in the aviation industry's maintenance, repair and overhaul sector have already expressed an interest in the development.

Work by the WDA on a range of studies is nearing completion and the agency expects to be able to apply for planning permission from the Vale of Glamorgan Council in December.

Vale of Glamorgan MP John Smith said: "I am absolutely delighted with the news.

It means the Red Dragon project is still proceeding.

I will meet Adam Ingram from the MoD to lay to rest any question marks over future contracts."