THE long-awaited Circuit of Wales project could be lost to Scotland if the Welsh Government does not give it the thumbs-up soon, it has been claimed.

The £425 million scheme in Ebbw Vale has been in progress since 2011 but has been plagued with delays, and six years later not a single yard of tarmac has been laid.

And now it has been revealed the project team has been in talks with the Scottish Government about setting up a similar project in Scotland. In an email seen by the Argus a representative of the Scottish Government is seen corresponding with members of the Circuit of Wales team, asking about the progress of the Welsh project and details of public support the scheme would require.

Although the Welsh Government’s economy and infrastructure secretary Ken Skates previously said he expected to be able to make a decision on the project this month, no such decision has yet been made.

Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price said he was concerned the revelation showed the potential benefits of the project, including thousands of new jobs and a predicted benefit to the Welsh economy of £50 million a year, could be lost if the Scottish Government stepped in

“It is clear to me that if the Welsh Government dithers and does not press ahead with this scheme then Scotland is ready to look at taking things forward,” he said.

“After all, who would turn down up to 6,000 jobs?”

He added: “The Welsh Government cannot allow this to drag on and on.

“The people of Blaenau Gwent deserve more. Thousands of jobs have been lost in the area over the last 10 years.

“This scheme is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the lives of the people of Blaenau Gwent.”

A Circuit of Wales spokesman confirmed the team had entered into “discussions with other devolved administrations over similar facilities”, but said details of these talks were confidential.

“We are focused on finalising the approvals with Welsh Government to allow the project to advance in Wales,” he said.

“We are confident that the robust due diligence and external reports undertaken will demonstrate that we have met all the measures set out by the cabinet secretary last year and that we will be able to move, with enthusiasm, to start construction this year.”

The Heads of the Valleys Development Company, which is behind the project, was previously handed a £2 million grant from the Welsh Government. And the Welsh Government was also forced to pay out more than £7.3 million to the developer’s bank after it recalled a loan the firm was unable to repay.

The Welsh Government declined to comment.

The Scottish Government had not responded to a request for comment as the Argus went to press.