Ebbw Vale circuit should get no more public cash, says Tory AM (BBC)

Ministers are being urged not to commit further public money to plans for a £315m motor racing circuit in Ebbw Vale.

Conservative AM Antoinette Sandbach said the proposals involved “huge risk” and major environmental damage.

She is leading an assembly debate on Wednesday on the plans, called a “once in a century” opportunity by fellow Tory AM William Graham last month.

The proposals will go to a public inquiry in March.

The Welsh government has given a £2m grant towards developing a scheme promising to create thousands of jobs and attract 750,000 visitors a year.

Ministers say further support depends on necessary private funding being secured.

‘Hugely important’
The developers have won the right to promote the MotoGP motorbike race for five years but admit the track will not be ready to host the 2015 event.

But Ms Sandbach, a north Wales AM who speaks for her party on the environment, said the project will also miss the deadline for the 2016 race, a claim BBC Wales has asked developers to respond to.

Construction was due to start in February 2014 but it is understood several parts of the planning process remain to be negotiated before work can begin.

On Tuesday, Circuit of Wales chief executive Michael Carrick called the project “hugely important” for the regeneration of Blaenau Gwent and the UK economy.

Source:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-30907687