July 23, 2022 - 1195 views
A politician has questioned why the feasibility of having a major road route joining North and South Wales is not being considered in light of attempts to bring the two parts of Wales closer together for the good of the local economy.
Acting on the concerns of Aberconwy residents who regularly face around 5-hour trips to travel between her constituency and Welsh capital, Cardiff, Janet Finch-Saunders MS has been pushing for improved North – South connectivity.
In response to the Member for Aberconwy’s question as to what assessments have been undertaken on the potential economic advantages of a motorway connecting North and South Wales, Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Welsh Government, stated:
“A motorway connecting north to south Wales does not form part of the National Transport Plan nor would it comply with the stated objectives of Llwybr Newydd to encourage mode shift to more sustainable forms of transport. No assessments have been undertaken”.
After receiving the reply, Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “With the ridiculously poor and unreliable quality of rail services connecting Aberconwy to South Wales, and the Welsh Government having abolished the air link, the reality for my constituents and many across rural Wales, is that private cars are the most sustainable and feasible form of transport.
“I have been campaigning for years to see a direct rail service provided from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Manchester Airport, so to help empower people to travel to and from the Conwy Valley by train without the inconvenience of changing at Llandudno Junction, but the Welsh Government just have not listened.
“Countless residents and I drove to the Royal Welsh this week, and we were all reminded yet again of how poor the highways are between North and South Wales, and the journey time is only going to get worse as we will be reduced to driving at 20mph through the countless communities between Conwy and Cardiff!
“If we want an economically stronger and more united Wales it is only reasonable to expect that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change would at least have undertaken assessments of the feasibility of having a straighter road or motorway linking North and South Wales.
“It is to the detriment of the people and economy of Aberconwy and Wales that the Welsh Government have no plan for a motorway connecting North and South”.
