Doom and gloom

10:44am Thursday 7th December 2006

Dear editor,

It was pleasing to read the good news in a recent edition of the Mercury that unemployment in Pembrokeshire had fallen to its lowest level in 20 years, when, under the previous administration, Milford Haven had suffered one of the highest unemployment rates in the UK.

However, it surprises me when local public organisations do not make the public aware of other good news which is the result of the sound economic policy of the Labour Government in Westminster, and of the generous Budget settlements that have been agreed year upon year with the Welsh Assembly Labour Government, which in turn has invested throughout the country and in particular within our county.

Although we can commend our county council for its particular interest in its investment in education, for example, since Pembrokeshire's education policy is a flagship for other authorities throughout Wales.

Such a successful policy would not be possible without the generous support grant provided by the Assembly and its financial incentives to encourage investment in education in the first place.

It is sad to think that the unprecedented investment in our local hospital has gone unnoticed during our recent fight to ensure that the people of Pembrokeshire will continue to receive the sort of health service which is their right.

The general public is unaware that the total investment in Withybush Hospital in the last five years is £9.6m, and this does not include the cost of the new A&E unit, the new scanner, the further investment at South Pembs and Tenby, or pay increases for staff.

All we seem to see reported is doom and gloom, and when we receive news that our hospital is safe and that unemployment is at a 20 year low, it is reported in the inside pages and not on the front where such good news belongs.

I wouldn't argue that there is not more to be done - villages like Johnston, Tiers Cross and Thornton are crying out for road improvements to address the increased pressure caused by LNG. I call upon the Labour Assembly Government to address these needs so that we can all continue to benefit from the prudent economic governance which has already delivered the most welcome economic improvements in the last 20 years.

Cllr Ken Rowlands, Woodlands, Church Road, Johnston.