Preseli MP Stephen Crabb visited a North Pembrokeshire farmhouse renovation recently, linking up with a successful local construction firm and their national trade body.
Carreg Construction and the Federation of Master Builders welcomed Mr Crabb onsite near Solva, to discuss the current issues and opportunities that Pembrokeshire’s construction firms face.
Following the visit, Stephen Crabb said: “It was an excellent site visit with Carreg Constrution and the FMB to hear more about the issues affecting building firms here in our county.
“Carreg are one of Pembrokeshire’s outstanding construction companies and it was a pleasure to meet some of the team as they tackle an impressive farmhouse restoration project.
“We discussed some of the important issues, including VAT rules, along with the FMB’s Licence to Build campaign, which looks to cut down on rogue traders from operating. It was also very good to meet some of the apprentices who’ve worked hard at Pembrokeshire College and are now beginning their careers at Carreg. My thanks to Carreg and the FMB for their time.”
Carreg Construction MD, Andrew Phillips said: “It is always a privilege to be invited to showcase our work and our team that includes a mix of experience and youth, involved in the sensitive and creative restoration of historic properties of Pembrokeshire. We also used the opportunity to raise the issue of full rate of VAT being charged on restoration and building extensions. It is our belief that this needs to be reduced and in turn help to make projects more affordable for owners and in turn boost construction output for smaller contractors.”
Ifan Glyn of the Federation on Master Builders said: “We were pleased to arrange a site visit with local MP Stephen Crabb to a building site outside Solva with one of our members, Carreg Construction. It was a great opportunity for Stephen to see for himself the fantastic craftsmanship on display and to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the contribution small building firms make to the local economy by providing good quality employment and apprenticeship opportunities. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, and I hope Stephen also found it worthwhile.”