ARFON AM Siân Gwenllian has welcomed news that administrative jobs are coming to Caernarfon.

The Traffic Commissioner for Wales is to open an office in the town to carry out work presently being done in Birmingham.

It is the body responsible for the licensing and regulation of those who operate heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches, and the registration of local bus services.

Siân Gwenllian had campaigned for a dedicated Traffic Commissioner for Wales and had encouraged the idea that the office should be based in Caernarfon with bilingual staff.

She hopes the jobs will be widely publicised in Gwynedd and will provide opportunities as the new office is set up and developed.

There are eight traffic commissioners in the UK responsible for the regulation of the operator’s licences required by the road freight and passenger transport industries.

In October 2016 the Secretary of State for Transport appointed the first full-time Welsh Traffic Commissioner. Previously this post had been shared with the Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands.

The Plaid Cymru Assembly Member said: "I have consistently argued that good quality public sector jobs, especially those requiring bilingual skills, should be relocated or based from the outset in Arfon.

"I’ve been corresponding with the Traffic Commissioner’s office and am very pleased with the outcome. Whilst the Traffic Commissioner himself will be based in the Cardiff area, Caernarfon will also benefit from the Birmingham move.

"Plaid Cymru is always calling for the creation of high-quality jobs in north west Wales. Quality employment is essential for retaining and attracting young people back to our area.

"I am pleased the Commissioner recognises the importance of bilingual working and the Caernarfon area, with its high concentration of Welsh speakers, is well-suited to providing the fully bilingual services expected from the holder of a publicly-funded post in Wales.

"It was disappointing that the Labour Government in the Assembly decided to locate the new Wales Revenue Authority to the Cardiff area, losing an important opportunity to locate jobs in north west Wales.

"A new Wales Planning Inspectorate is to be set up and Plaid Cymru is calling for that body to be set up in north Wales.

"In these days of austerity, any new public sector jobs are to be warmly welcomed and it is vital that they are located outside the Cardiff area in communities where they can have a positive impact on the local economy."