SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for more money to be spent on improving major roads in North-East Wales.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Transport and Infrastructure asked the First Minister, Eluned Morgan for assurances that there would be further investment in the road infrastructure in North-East Wales.
He said: “I recently had the privilege of meeting businesses from across Wrexham industrial estate, including JCB, Kellogg’s and Net World Sports who, between them, employ hundreds, if not thousands, of people from around the Wrexham and Flintshire area. You’ll recognise that North-East Wales is a really important economic hub, not just for my part of the world, but for Wales as a whole.
“I was able to share with the Transport Minister just over a week ago some of the issues they raised around public transport, and I’m grateful for his response to those.
“There is a broader issue, First Minister, around transport infrastructure in North-East Wales, which is holding back investment for some of these businesses.
“It’s been described to me that some of the trunk roads in that part of the world are overused and underinvested in, particularly thinking of roads like the A55, the A494 and the A483, which get clogged up time and time again, slowing business down, making it less of an attractive place for investment in the future.
“So, I’m wondering what assurances you can give me and my residents in North-East Wales that there’ll be further investment in our road infrastructure so we can continue to see that important investment, not just for my part of the world, but for Wales as a whole.”
The First Minister said they recognised there was a need to work on a regional basis regarding transport and it would be up to the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee to come up with priorities.
Mr Rowlands added: “North-East Wales has so much to offer potential investors so it is absolutely vital that major roads in that area are fit for purpose.
“I am not at all convinced that the Welsh Government fully appreciates just how attractive it is for business investment.”
