Railway praised in Welsh Assembly



* Llangollen Railway has been praised in the Welsh Assembly. 


Llangollen Railway has won warm praise for the way it is helping to stoke up the region's tourism trade. 

 

The pat on the back came as North Wales Conservative Assembly Member Mark Isherwood (pictured right) questioned the First Minister over Welsh Government's action to maximise tourist opportunities in North East Wales.

With the Welsh Government having established a working group in North East Wales some 20 months ago to look at how it can maximise the potential of the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site, Mr Isherwood asked Carwyn Jones when the government will reveal what the group proposes to do to boost tourism.

 

He also referred to Llangollen Railway and recent work to extend the line to Corwen.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr Isherwood said: “Noting the hydro nation agenda in Scotland, which has delivered major regeneration gains for the waterways there, and noting that the Llangollen Railway is going ahead with its steam train extension to Corwen, despite losing the funding for the stage 2 station in Corwen for now, what action is the Welsh Government proposing, and when will we learn what the working group is proposing, to maximise the tourist opportunities that are available, even in the current economic climate?”

The First Minister told Mr Isherwood that much work is being done to promote North East Wales.

He said: “Tourism Partnership North Wales and the local authorities have been working closely on a new brand for the three counties of Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

 

"The next step is for that brand to be tested, with focus groups and with others, to make sure that it is right.

 

"It is also working on a new outdoors activity brand for the whole of the north of Wales, including things such as a walking north Wales campaign featuring the Prestatyn and the Vale of Clwyd walking festival, golf, in terms of clubs like Rhuddlan, Ruthin-Pwllglas and Denbigh, and also looking to feature the outdoor activities that are available in the Vale of Clwyd.”

Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood commended Llangollen Railway for continuing developments despite funding setbacks.

He said: “Although the original funding for the extension of the line to Corwen was no longer available from the Welsh Government and Welsh European Funding Office by the time the Transport Works Order was granted, Llangollen Railway is to be commended for the positive steps it has taken with limited funds to provide steam train services and facilities at Corwen.”