I spoke at Wales’s first ever Islands Forum event on Anglesey chaired by the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.
The purpose of the fourth forum is to bring together islands from across the UK to identify solutions to shared challenges, risks and opportunities.
It is a platform for island leaders to meet face-to-face and feedback directly to UK and devolved governments.
The focus was housing this year - a priority for islands. Topics on the agenda include tackling housing shortages and putting vacant properties back into use.
I am delighted the Islands forum has come to Ynys Môn
It is another example of how Anglesey is front and centre of policy when it comes to our rich range of islands right around the coast of the United Kingdom.
Here on Ynys Môn, as is the story for other islands, we have seen first-hand what happens when large employers leave and skilled well-paid local employment becomes scarce. The average house price on our Island is £250,000 with average pay at around £27,000 – the sums simply don’t add up for those who want to get onto the housing ladder.
That is why every year we haemorrhage young people who leave in search of work taking our Welsh language and culture with them. And data shows that every year our retired and economically inactive population grows. The median age on the island is now 48 years old – six years older than the Welsh average.
A shortage of affordable housing combined with this ever-increasing burden on our Council can only lead to the sort of issues we are all seeing on our islands.
In the past three years Anglesey Council and I have worked together to bring UK government levelling up funding here: £26m for Anglesey Freeport, £17m to regenerate our port town of Holyhead, £16m from the Shared Prosperity Fund, £2.7m from the Community Renewal Fund.
The Government has also put its weight behind bringing new nuclear to Wylfa with a £160m investment as well as supporting jobs at RAF Valley with millions of pounds of funding.
It is these investments – used wisely – that will give us the tools to start to reverse the housing crisis on Anglesey.
The forum also provides the host council with an opportunity to showcase the very best of the island. Anglesey highlighted its proud heritage, culture and language.
