STOP the merger allowing Gwynedd to squander Anglesey's' potential

The Welsh Assembly Government have slashed local authority budgets and are trying to merge some authorities in order to cut costs.

We all agree and appreciate local authorities could improve efficiency cuts costs and save jobs through some collaboration with neighbouring Councils.

However, forcing Gwynedd Council and Anglesey to merge ignores the following:

1. Gwynedd Council currently has a budget black hole of almost £30 million - compared to 'just' £10 million in Anglesey.

Anglesey ratepayers would be bailing out Gwynedd.

2. Gwynedd's 75 councillors could out vote Anglesey's 40 councillors, perhaps leading to Gwynedd plundering Anglesey's land and property assets, particularly smallholdings; orchistrating a huge sell-off to "balance the books" at Gwynedd.

3. Merging would threaten Anglesey's pro-Wylfa stance with all the benefits it would bring to (the north of) Anglesey.

4. Holyhead 's proposed new substantive port "support" including cold storage and distribution facilities plus the Newry beach proposals by Stenna Conygar PLC and the regeneration of Holyhead could be at risk.

5. Gwynedd would seek to dump housing in Anglesey but channel business opportunities from Anglesey to Gwynedd.

6. A rushed and short-sighted merger with Gwynedd is not the answer. Collaboration might be.

7. Anglesey could be the country's largest growth area in the next few years with large scale construction projects (Wylfa B = upto 6,000 jobs) helping to provide, jobs, homes and prosperity in Anglesey - let's not hand it over on a plate to Gwynedd !

8. 2012 Elections will see a clear out of the "dinasour" Anglesey Councillors and election of fresh blood.

End..... thanks for reading !