THE TEMPORARY traffic lights on the A40 outside Llandovery appear to have become a permanent feature according to local MP Jonathan Edwards who has called on the Welsh Government to pull out “all the stops” to see the work completed.
The Plaid MP, who has this week written to the Transport Minister, pointed out that the permission for the temporary traffic lights, granted via a Temporary Traffic Order, came into force on October 6th 2014 and was only intended to last until August 31 2015. The Order will expire in April this year with as yet little sign of progression on the work site.
Jonathan Edwards MP told the Herald: “The so-called temporary traffic lights on the A40 appear to have become a permanent feature with the condition of the road now in an appalling state of repair.
“Having spoken with local residents I am aware of the deep sense of frustration there is in the community by the lack of progress on site.”
Edwards believes the Labour Government needs to stop focusing so much of its time and attention on the £1billion M4 project and invest more money on “key road arteries” like the A40 which is the main access route to Carmarthenshire from North Wales.
Edwards continued: “The A40 and the A483 on the other side of Llandovery are key road arteries and the gateway to Carmarthenshire. It is an embarrassment, therefore, to see these roads being left in the state they are currently.”
Last year the Labour Government had not budgeted any expenditure to invest in major transport infrastructure in Carmarthenshire.
The Welsh Government’s figures showed planned spending per head of population in South West Wales to be just £89 per head – lower than the Wales average of £570 per head, and a drop in the ocean to the average spend in south east Wales which will be £934 per head. The reason behind this difference is the Labour’s Government’s plans to spend £1billion on a few miles worth of road around the M4 in Newport.
Welsh Government information presented to the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee stated: Expenditure budgeted for Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion in the future is zero; expenditure budgeted for Neath Port Talbot is £400,000 and Wales’s second city, Swansea, also has zero pounds budgeted for transport investment.
Pembrokeshire is an exception with over £57m being budgeted for the A40 Llanddewi Velfrey- Penblewin trunk road.
“I have written to the Welsh Government’s Transport Minister who is responsible for the Trunk Road and have urged her to pull out all the stops to get work on site completed. I have also sought a commitment to see the stretch of road resurfaced at the same time.
“The Temporary Traffic Order, which was only meant to last until August last year, will expire at the start of April. I do not want local residents having to endure this inconvenience any longer.”
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