County on cusp of years of prosperity (From Western Telegraph)

County on cusp of years of prosperity

PEMBROKESHIRE is on the cusp of ten years of prosperity, First Minister Rhodri Morgan has forecast.

Around £2 million will be spent on developments in the county over the next two years, said Mr Morgan during a visit to Haverfordwest on Thursday.

The developments include two liquefied natural gas terminals, a Transco gas pipeline, at least two gas-fired power stations, and the possible activation of gas and oil explorations off the Pembrokeshire coast.

But he warned that the county had seen a distinct pattern in its economy over the last 40 years, alternating between ten years of prosperity and ten years of recession.

With this history in mind, the Minister said it was vital for Pembrokeshire not just to concentrate on the oil and gas industry, but to build a platform for a diverse economy.

Pembrokeshire has always been seen as the end of the line. But soon it will be regarded as the start of the line, providing almost a third of the UK's power, he added.

"We must get people to think that way about Pembrokeshire and to attract other industries as well," he said, adding that it was also important to build up Pembrokeshire College as a training centre for a diversity of skills.