Labour attacked in police cash row (From South Wales Guardian)

Labour attacked in police cash row

8:55am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News

THE rowover the privately- funded Ammanford police station intensified this week when Plaid Cymru politiciansAM Rhodri Glyn Thomas and MPJonathan Edwards accused the county branch of the Labour Party of “political point scoring”.

Kevin Madge, Labour leader at County Hall, called for an independent investigation last week after the Guardian exclusively revealed the Foundry Road building – the force’s only Private Finance Initiatives project – was costing the police £700,000 a year.

But Plaid Cymru say his stance is “hypocritical”

considering “Labour’s love affair with PFI agreements under Gordon Brown”.

In a joint statement, they said: “Private Finance contracts such as Ammanford Police Station, the Severn Bridge and Baglan Hosptial come at a price.

“Last year we exposed howlocal councils inWales have a £1.4billion PFI debt and fork out over £40million a year on these contracts.

This is money which is being diverted from front line services.

“That’s why it has always been a principle of Plaid Cymru that PFIs do not provide value for money.”