
	Your Ref / Eich Cyf
	Our Ref / Ein Cyf
	Date / Dyddiad	11 September 2015
	Ask for / Gofynner am	Niall Waller
	Email / EBost	niall.waller@flintshire.gov.uk

Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru	National Assembly for Wales
Y Pwyllgor Menter a Busnes	Enterprise and Business Committee
Ymchwiliad i Botensial yr Economi Forol yng Nghymru	Inquiry into the Potential of the Maritime Economy in Wales
PME 03	PME 03
Cyngor Sir y Fflint	Flintshire County Council

Response to the Inquiry into the Potential of the Maritime Economy in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales - Enterprise and Business Committee by Flintshire County Council

1. Flintshire County Council would like to thank the Committee for the opportunity to comment on the potential of the maritime economy in Wales.

2. Flintshire County Council is a unitary authority in north east Wales with a population of approximately 152,506^{^[1]}. The County is a major economic driver for north Wales and north west England and is host to one of the largest concentrations of manufacturing employment in the UK, especially in the advanced manufacturing sector.

3. The County is bordered along its north side by the Dee Estuary and this coastline has been a focal point for industry throughout history. Today, the coastline remains an important feature of the County’s economy with the Port of Mostyn playing a vital role in the growing wind energy sector and as a hub for transportation and employment.

4. With this in mind, the Council would like to reiterate and endorse many of the comments made by Mr. Jim O’Toole from the Port of Mostyn to the Committee in June 2015, which are appended for convenience.

5. In particular, Mr. O’Toole makes reference to the implications of the St. David’s Day announcement, transport connectivity and the prospects for the Port of Mostyn and the port sector in general which are felt to be of greatest importance.

Thank you again for the opportunity to contribute to this Inquiry.

Yours sincerely,

Niall Waller

Economic Development Manager