A new attempt to create the Circuit of Wales is underway, writes Robin Roberts. The controversial £433M scheme on mountainside overlooking Ebbw Vale was rejected for Welsh Government assistance in June 2017. The original proposers of the 2013 venture failed to secure the confidence of the Welsh Government which had put £9M into studies to turn over … [Read more...]
Circuit of Wales was a car crash for Welsh Government
Senior civil servants in Wales have been criticised by the Welsh Public Accounts Committee over their botched handling of financial affairs surrounding the failed £433M Circuit of Wales. The committee said the officials made "inexplicable decisions" about the spending and authorised £9M initial investment, but it’s unlikely to see £7.3M returned as the … [Read more...]
Welsh supercar makes London debut tomorrow
The TVR Griffith will make its London debut this week at the London Motor Show 17-20 May before it goes into production near Ebbw Vale later this year. TVR’s all new sports car will be joined by several of the brand’s legendary heritage models, as part of the Built in Britain display at the capital's annual motor show. Visitors to the London Motor Show … [Read more...]
Welsh infrastructure must be top priority for 2018
Congestion is costing Welsh drivers £1.5 billion a year, and the Welsh Conservatives are calling on the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay to make infrastructure a top priority for 2018. INRIX Inc – a leading international provider of real-time traffic information – has calculated the economic cost per driver due to congestion, with the average driver in … [Read more...]
£100m Welsh automotive investment begins
The first stage of a promised £100m investment in Blaenau Gwent is being outlined today. Economy Secretary, Ken Skates has approved funding for a new 50,000 sq ft. industrial building in Ebbw Vale to kick start plans for the Welsh Government’s new Automotive Technology Park. The Economy Secretary made the announcement ahead of a visit to Ebbw Vale … [Read more...]
TVR Griffith unveiled before Welsh production begins
The new 200mph TVR Griffith was unveiled today, a year before it is due to roll off a new production line in South Wales. TVR chose the Goodwood Revival meeting to show their 5.0V8 prototype two-seater designed by former McLaren engineer Gordon Murray and incorporating F1 type ground effect technology to aid grip and handling. Last year, the … [Read more...]
Talks underway to create auto-tech park in Wales
The Welsh Government’s £100m Automotive Technology Park in Blaenau Gwent moved a step closer as key players gathered to discuss plans. Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, chaired a meeting with industry figures from TVR, Ford, General Dynamics and IQE as well as representatives of Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, Blaenau Gwent Council and Cardiff University, in … [Read more...]
Meeting discusses £100m technology park
Wales Economy Secretary, Ken Skates and Lifelong Learning Minister, Alun Davies visited Blaenau Gwent yesterday to discuss plans for the new Welsh Government funded £100m technology park. Following last week’s announcement, the Economy Secretary and the Lifelong Learning Minister, who Chairs the Valleys Taskforce, met representatives of Blaenau Gwent … [Read more...]
Due diligence call for Ebbw Vale Automotive Zone
Days after rejecting support for the Circuit of Wales development, Welsh Government has called for “innovation and entrepreneurship”. Economy Secretary, Ken Skates launched BeTheSpark, a Wales-wide movement aimed at unlocking the potential for greater collaboration between entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, risk capital, academia and government to … [Read more...]
No money for CoW but automotive zone gets thumbs up
Circuit of Wales public funding has been shown a red flag by Welsh Government, but it is backing a new £100M automotive technology centre in Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone. Within hours of the announcement, Welsh Conservatives called into question thinking behind the rejection. Here is the full statement from Ken Skates, AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy … [Read more...]
