Caerphilly County Borough Council has said it is seeking European Union funding to build more business units in the Upper Rhymney Valley.
The issue of council-owned business parks was raised in the Senedd recently by UKIP AM David Rowlands, who represents South East Wales.
The party made a request under the Freedon of Information Act for details on waiting lists for council-owned business parks in the county borough.
During First Minister’s Questions on March 21, Mr Rowlands said: “I’m given to understand that there are at present 175 businesses on waiting lists for council-owned units in Caerphilly – some for up to five years.
“Can you therefore indicate whether there are any government plans to help councils like Caerphilly construct new units to accommodate such surpluses, given the fact that, obviously, these companies have the potential to create thousands of jobs close to home?”
First Minister Carwyn Jones replied: “We need to avoid a situation where we build speculatively lots and lots of different factory units because we know that a lot of them remain empty, or they did remain empty in the 1990s.
“What we look to do is to identify existing buildings that are appropriate for businesses who want them, and to look at where units can be built where we know there will be a demand.
“And that is something certainly that forms part of our economic strategy.”
A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokeswoman said the figure of 175 given to UKIP included an element of duplication as there are multiple applications for a number of sites.
She said: “The council works hard to attract and support small businesses and we are currently seeking EU funding to assist in the provision of additional business units in the Upper Rhymney Valley.”
Good luck with getting EU funding now. If i was part of Europe who decideds grants i would tell them. NO. This is reality of us living the EU, how can we expect money when we are in the process of leaving. I wonder if Westminister will give Wales the same deal