Following correspondence to the Welsh Government over the summer and an intervention calling for a statement in the Senedd yesterday, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has welcomed the postponement of the Public Local Inquiry into Junctions 15 and 16 on the A55 that was scheduled to commence this month, until the Welsh Government Road’s Review takes place.
In the Written Statement released today, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change apologised for the “inconvenience caused by the postponement of the Public Local Inquiry and for the delay in providing this notification.” The Ministerial decision in respect of the recommendations of the Welsh Government Roads Review will be published in due course.
Welcoming the clarity, Janet said:
“Having called for a postponement of this local public inquiry, until the Welsh Government can clarify its intentions with regards to road policy, I am relieved that the Deputy Minister has seen sense. This announcement is a clear win for taxpayers and provides short-term clarity for the residents of Dwygyfylchi, Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan.
“That a significant sum of public money could have been spent on further public engagement, only for the Welsh Road’s Review to have come along and scrapped the entire project, underlines the foolish route that this policy was travelling down.
“That it took an intervention from me to realise this fact should shock all residents. That it has taken two months for the Deputy Minister to see the light highlights my concerns about the lack of pragmatism shown by this administration. I look forward to the outcome of the Review. ”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- A copy of the Deputy Minister’s Written Statement is attached.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
