Business

Concern from Bristol Airport as Cardiff eyes £200m in Welsh Government subsidies

Published

21 hours ago

October 15, 2024

CARDIFF AIRPORT’S bid for a substantial £205 million government subsidy over the next decade has ignited a fierce debate in the UK aviation sector. This funding, announced by Ken Skates, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, aims to safeguard and potentially expand the 5,000 jobs supported by the airport, which the Welsh Government acquired for £52 million in 2013. The proposed investment would be targeted at attracting new airlines and routes, aiming to elevate passenger numbers to over two million annually and diversify the airport’s revenue streams in areas such as aviation training, sustainable aviation fuel, cargo, and maintenance.

However, Bristol Airport has voiced significant concerns, suggesting that such substantial state aid to Cardiff could create commercial imbalances. Bristol Airport, having handled a record 9.8 million passengers in 2023 compared to Cardiff’s 841,000, fears the subsidy could skew competitive dynamics. The airport argues that the investment might disadvantage it by altering the competitive landscape, potentially impacting its passenger numbers and revenue.

The dispute highlights the growing disparity in performance and strategy between the two airports. Cardiff Airport aims to reach its pre-pandemic annual passenger number of 1.6 million by 2026, focusing on a smaller number of routes, including long-haul flights to major economic centres. In contrast, Bristol Airport has thrived by targeting high-volume tourist traffic and low-cost carriers.

The Welsh Government has submitted its investment plans for Cardiff Airport to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), seeking to ensure compliance with the UK’s new public sector subsidy rules. The CMA’s Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has issued a non-binding evaluation report that calls for a more detailed assessment of potential competitive impacts. The report suggests that the Welsh Government’s analysis could better address the implications for Bristol Airport and other regional airports, which could also compete for similar activities in the future.

Several other UK airports, including Birmingham and Regional and City Airports, have echoed Bristol’s concerns about potential distortions to competition and investment. However, Gloucestershire Airport has reported no anticipated negative impacts on its operations.

The situation is further complicated by Bristol Airport’s expressed willingness to collaborate with Cardiff Airport in non-competitive areas to cut costs and lessen taxpayer expenses, though it seeks greater transparency in how Cardiff’s proposed subsidy will be allocated.

Responding to the news that Bristol Airport said it is “deeply concerned” over plans by the Welsh Government to provide over £200m in subsidy, Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, said: “Investment in airports – as with any large-scale transport infrastructure – is crucial in order to ensure they are able to grow and thrive. This of course, includes large scale subsidies such as the £206 million proposed support package for Cardiff Airport.

“Whilst I do not dispute this positive injection of investment for Cardiff Airport, I do dispute where it is coming from. It remains my belief that the private sector is the right environment for this vital Welsh transport link to thrive, and that we would see much greater investment, growth and passenger take-up if the competitive free market was utilised.

“We all know that government funding is stretched. A move to the private sector would not only encourage efficiency, competition and attract greater investment and growth for Cardiff Airport, but it would free-up more taxpayer cash to spend in other areas of the budget that so desperately need help under current circumstances.”

In response to the CMA’s findings, Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Rebecca Evans, has stated that the Welsh Government will take the necessary time to consider the CMA’s feedback before refining its proposed investment program. She promised to update the Senedd once a decision has been reached on how to proceed.

This ongoing saga underscores the challenges facing regional airports in balancing growth ambitions with fair competition, especially in a post-Brexit regulatory environment.

As Cardiff Airport strives to expand its capabilities and service offerings, the outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for regional economic development and the broader UK aviation industry.

Business

Going underground: Welsh Government urged to consider Pylon alternative

Published

18 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Secretary for Energy invited to visit industry-leading Carmarthenshire firm.

Local politician Jane Dodds MS has invited the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans MS to visit a local Carmarthen underground cabling firm.

ATP Cable Ploughing, a firm based in Pencader, operates a specialist machine called a “spiderplow” which allows cables to be installed underground with minimal impact.

The Carmarthenshire firm is already laying over a kilometre of high voltage cable a day in sensitive areas across the UK.

Underground cabling has been hailed as an alternative from building overhead Pylons across the countryside, with underground cables being less vulnerable to damages caused by the weather.

Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds has now called on the Welsh Government to make underground cabling the default option in Wales instead of building more overhead Pylons.

Speaking to the Siambr on Tuesday, Jane Dodds MS invited the Cabinet Secretary for Energy Rebecca Evans MS to a cross-party site visit to ATP Cable Plough, so that she could see “their cutting-edge technology firsthand to demonstrate how undergrounding can secure our energy future while also protecting our beautiful landscapes.

Undergrounding our power infrastructure isn’t just about appearance, it’s about resilience. And with more extreme weather events becoming the norm, having a more weather-proof grid is becoming increasingly more important.

The Welsh Government’s commitment to building a green economy is welcomed but we must go further, particularly when it comes to alternative approaches like underground cabling, in order to give ourselves a chance at futureproofing our energy grid.”

Business

Ascona Group named among UK’s fastest growing enterprises

Published

22 hours ago

October 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ASCONDA GROUP, a prominent forecourt operator based in Pembrokeshire, has been acknowledged as one of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, securing its position on the celebrated UK Fast Growth Index for the fourth consecutive year. This prestigious listing showcases the top fifty rapidly expanding businesses across Wales, distinguishing Ascona amidst over 5.6 million companies nationwide.

The final rankings will be unveiled at the esteemed UK Fast Growth Awards in London on Thursday, 28th November 2024.

Further accolades for Ascona Group were seen at the 2024 Forecourt Trader Awards, where it achieved significant recognition.

The Springfield Road site in Aberdeen was awarded the Regional Forecourt Trader of the Year for Scotland (up to 4mlpa), and the Machynlleth service station in North Wales won in the West Country & Wales category (up to 4mlpa).

This award follows a transformative £3 million redevelopment project completed at Machynlleth in 2023, aligning with Ascona’s strategy to evolve into a next-generation roadside retail destination.

Darren Briggs, Founder and CEO of Ascona Group, expressed immense pride in these achievements: “I am delighted to see Ascona being recognised as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the UK. This is a testament to our team’s hard work, dedication, and the strong ‘Team Ascona’ ethos that has driven our success over the years.

The recognition at this year’s Forecourt Trader Awards is also a testament to our commitment to providing customers with high-quality roadside retail destinations.”

The Ascona Group operates 60 sites across the UK and employs over 820 staff. It is renowned for its innovative approach to forecourt retailing, offering a blend of commercial partnerships and in-house brands to over 300,000 customers weekly.

Ascona also prides itself on its community involvement, notably through the Ascona Foundation which supports a variety of local initiatives including children’s sports teams and food bank charities, with donations exceeding £375,000 since 2017.

Business

Lovell Homes to host showhome launch event at Haverfordwest development

Published

2 days ago

October 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

DEVELOPER Lovell Homes is hosting a showhome launch event at its new Augustus Grange development in Haverfordwest.

The development, which is being delivered in association with Pobl Group, will provide a total of 115 two and three-bedroom homes located off St David’s Road, just six miles from the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with 69% of the homes being affordable.

The event will take place from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 19^thOctober, with coffee and cakes available curtesy of Cotinis, and from 10am to 5pm on Sunday 20^th October. Attendees will be able to view the stunning Lambourne style showhome and visit the sales office which will be in a Milford style home. An Independent mortgage advisor from ABP Mortgages will also be on-hand both days to offer free, impartial advice.

The Lambourne is an idyllic, semi-detached family home with three bedrooms, priced from £260,000. At the front of the home is a combined kitchen and dining area with a fitted contemporary style kitchen. A spacious living room sits at the rear of the home and features French doors leading to the rear garden. The first floor is completed with a downstairs cloakroom and convenient under stairs storage cupboard.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, one of which features an en suite, and a modern family bathroom.

Selected homes at the development will also be available to purchase with the help of Help to Buy-Wales and Lovell’s Key Worker Discount.

Help to Buy-Wales is a Welsh Government backed scheme available on new build properties up to £300,000. The scheme means that buyers only need a 5% deposit to secure their home. The Government will provide up to 20% of the value of the property in an equity loan, meaning only a 75% mortgage is needed from a bank or building society*. The key worker scheme provides buyers with a £500 discount for every £25,000 spent on a new Lovell home**.

Suzie Hewitt, regional sales director at Lovell Homes, said: “We are incredibly excited to be unveiling the showhome at our Augustus Grange development. This is an excellent opportunity for property seekers to see firsthand the range of homes that will be available.

“This is a high-quality development in a sought-after location, so we expect to see lots of interest. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about a home in the area to come along and find out more.”

Haverfordwest is a historic county town in Pembrokeshire, close to the west coast of Wales. In the centre of the town is the Haverfordwest Castle, a landmark dating back to the 12th Century, and the Western Cleddau river. Future residents will be able to enjoy beautiful coastal landscapes, a variety of shops and restaurants, and excellent commuter links by both road and rail.

To find out more about the development, visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/developments/augustus-grange-haverfordwest/ or call 01437 928 064.

*T&Cs apply. For more information on Help to Buy Wales and Lovell Homes’ key workers discount, visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/offers/help-to-buy-wales/

**T&Cs apply. For more information, visit https://www.lovell.co.uk/offers/key-worker-discount/.

This year, Lovell Homes achieved Gold for customer service with In-house Research, meaning an impressive 93.6 per cent of customers in the South Wales and West would recommend Lovell to family and friends.

To find out more about Pobl, visit https://www.poblgroup.co.uk.

You can also like Lovell on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lovellhomes and follow Lovell on Instagram at @lovell_homes, and on LinkedIn @LovellPartnershipsLtd.