Gordon Edwards: �1m is chicken feed

On Thursday First Secretary Rhodri Morgan outlined, to the Welsh Assembly, how money to help the communities devastated by the losses will be allocated.

However the level of assistance allotted to north east Wales has been questioned by politicians and local residents.

Gordon Edwards, from Shotton, called the deal "chicken feed" and said it was another example of north Wales losing out.

"It's all south Wales it always is, you can never retrain for a decent job - you go and get a job for �5 hour - I was getting more than that 15 years ago when I retired," he said.

In May last year, Mr Morgan announced a �76m aid package to help rebuild the steel communities affected by the Corus closures.

Maureen Coppacks' father worked at Shotton

Most of the money has gone to the areas hardest hit by redundancies including Llanwern near Newport and Ebbw Vale.

The projects outlined for a cash injection include a passenger railway link between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff and a proposed Urban Regeneration Company for the Newport area.

Flintshire County Council have defended the assembly's allocation of the money but people living in the county have complained about the lack of good jobs available.

Ken Williams lives in the area, he believes the cash will not help people find employment.

He said: "British aerospace are looking to off-load people, they're not taking them on at the moment and we've got no other industry.

I do think its a great idea for the place because since all these redundancies this place has gone to nothing

Mary Bellis, resident

"There are hardly any shops up here worthwhile so what are they going to retrain them for."

Meanwhile, in reaction to the Flintshire aid package, Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami warned against complacency in north east Wales.

Mr Tami said: "While we welcome the �1m it is vitally important that Rhodri Morgan and the assembly recognises the proud history of steel in this area (north east wales).

"Flintshire deserves its fair share of the money and attention."

Many people, made redundant from the plant, were from Deeside where levels of unemployment are amongst the highest in the county.

Mary Bellis' nephew was one of the 400 workers who lost their jobs, she said the extra money should help local communities.

Unemployment levels

"I do think its a great idea for the place because since all these redundancies this place has gone to nothing."

Mr Morgan has insisted the requirements for north Wales match the level of unemployment, which - despite a spate of recent job losses - remains relatively low at 2.5%.

But many Shotton residents are concerned the money has come to late.

Maureen Coppack's father used to work at the site for more than 30 years, she said redundancies at Corus have badly affected the town.

"There used to be a lot more shops, more hub of activity but now people go out of the area for entertainment, for shopping.

"I think that has a lot to do with the unemployment."