Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has called on Welsh Ministers to review its road network options, after the UK Government were advised not to take forward its section of the Pant to Llanymynech bypass because it does not provide value for money.
Mr George made the recommendation during a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee, who have been examining a petition from the Llanymynech and Pant Bypass Action Group, requesting that the Welsh Government reinstate former proposals to build a bypass between the two villages across the England-Wales border.
Committee members received an update from the Welsh Government informing them that the Highways Agency had undertaken a review of the previous scheme but concluded that it does not offer good value for money because it would only make a modest contribution to economic development and housing in the region. Given this advice, UK Transport Ministers have instructed the Agency to stop work on the scheme and not to include it the Agency’s programme of major regional works.
The Welsh Government stated that due to the need for cross-border collaboration for this scheme, it could not progress with the scheme any further if it did not have the cooperation of the Highways Agency but was prepared to review its options along the Welsh trunk route network.
However, the Montgomeryshire AM who spoke at length on this issue during the meeting recommended that the Committee write to the new minister responsible for Transport and the Economy, Edwina Hart AM and request more detail on how the Welsh Government intends to reconsider its options, given that Powys County Council believes it would bring real benefits to mid Wales.
Commenting, Mr George said:
"While the advice to the UK Government was of course disappointing, it has to be seen in the context of a wide range of positive responses from both individuals and organisations on both sides of the border, including both Powys and Shropshire Councils.
"As this is an issue of cross-border concern, it is going to take the engagement and commitment of governments on both sides of the border to solve this long-standing traffic problem.
"However, I don’t believe this is simply an economic argument, there are very real road safety concerns that need to be addresses too.
"I hope the Welsh Government won’t simply park this issue but will respond positively to both what the Committee has requested and to what Powys Council has highlighted and produce a strong Welsh business case that proves this bypass is necessary."