A new nuclear development at Wylfa is ‘vital’ for the wellbeing and prosperity of Anglesey’s communities, says the local authority.
The Isle of Anglesey County Council is calling on the UK Government to offer a firm commitment and timescales for a Wylfa development.
The council said it shares the Nuclear Industry Association’s (NIA) concerns about the industry’s decline in Wales. Anglesey has seen a 57% drop in jobs linked to the nuclear industry – the worst of any UK constituency – despite Wylfa being recognised as the best site for a new nuclear development in Europe, according to the NIA. Jobs in the nuclear industry in England have risen by 65%.
The NIA’s 2024 Jobs Map shows there are currently 827 people working in the industry in Wales, down from 1,346 in 2014. Ynys Môn has seen the biggest fall, with only 321 jobs now compared to 750 in 2010.
Anglesey Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Gary Pritchard, said:
“The significant drop in nuclear jobs on the Island has been compounded by several failed attempts to deliver a new project on the Wylfa site. At its peak, the former Magnox nuclear power station at Wylfa, which began decommissioning in 2015, employed around 1,000 people, with the local population, particularly in North Anglesey, highly dependent on the station.
“The closure of other employers at Rehau and Octel in Amlwch has also contributed to North Anglesey’s economic decline over the last 20 years. The subsequent lack of jobs has resulted in working aged people, many of whom are Welsh speakers, moving out with their families – leaving an ageing population and a struggling economy.
“The NIA’s 2024 Jobs Map reaffirms the council’s position that a new nuclear development at Wylfa, either at gigawatt-scale or small modular reactor scale, is vital to ensure the long-term wellbeing and prosperity of our Island’s communities, particularly those in North Anglesey. A firm commitment and timescales for a development happening at Wylfa from UK Government is crucial to secure local job opportunities.”
The council’s latest North Anglesey Socio-economic Impact Report has confirmed that the north of the Island has been in protracted decline for at least two decades.
Chief Executive, Dylan J Williams said:
“The county council and the public sector cannot regenerate North Anglesey on their own. Attracting new investment from the private sector will be critical, and a new nuclear development at Wylfa offers the potential to secure long term transformational change.”
“We now need certainty from the UK Government that a development will take place on the Wylfa site. This will enable us to plan effectively, influence and give assurances to our communities. It’s essential that any potential development recognises and protects the qualities that make the Island and its communities unique, this includes the Welsh Language and our culture.”
