Posted: Thu 14th Oct 2021

Claims North Wales road projects are in ‘deep freeze’ denied by government minister

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Oct 14th, 2021

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Claims that road improvement projects in North Wales have been placed into a “deep freeze” have been dismissed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government announced a pause on new road building schemes in June while a review is carried out to reduce carbon emissions. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The decision has resulted in several projects being put on hold in the region, including the proposed Deeside “Red Route” and a third Anglesey crossing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The issue was raised in the Senedd by Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, who said it was proof that Labour ministers did not care about the area. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, the Conservative politician’s accusations were denied by the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, Lesley Griffiths. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking yesterday (Wednesday, October 13), Mr Millar said: “The Labour Party made pre-election promises that it would deliver significant improvements to the trunk road network in North Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“These are big projects, which you’ve promised to deliver for the people of North Wales, which are now in the deep freeze as a result of the decisions being taken by this government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“People in North Wales would expect that, as the Minister for North Wales, you would be shouting out to unlock those projects and ensure their delivery. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“But isn’t it the truth that this Labour government simply doesn’t care about North Wales, and that’s why other projects are proceeding while these are on ice?” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

When the review was announced, Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters said the government wanted to shift money from new roads to maintaining existing routes and investing in public transport. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said projects that were already under way, such as the Heads of the Valleys Road in South Wales, would continue. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, Ms Griffiths, who represents Wrexham, said the suggestion North Wales was being ignored was not accurate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

She said: “Darren Millar knows that that is absolutely not true. I’m a member from north-east Wales and I would never allow that to happen. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The fact that we have a Minister for North Wales and we have had for a significant number of years, absolutely shows that, so please don’t mislead in that way. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“You say that they’re in the deep freeze; they’re not in the deep freeze. There is currently a review going on. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This is a five-year government and we’re five months into it, so I don’t think you can say that these things will not happen.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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