Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has joined former MP’s in condemnation of suggestions that upgrade and electrification of North Wales Coast mainline will be scrapped.
Last October, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed at least £1 billion to upgrade the rail infrastructure in the region. This commitment was funded by reallocating monies initially intended for the Birmingham to Manchester stretch of HS2.
Sadly, the current Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, has made comments that have thrown the prospects of the project into doubt.
Commenting on the news Janet said:
“I join my Conservative colleagues in their condemnation of suggestions that the investment in the North Wales line will be scrapped.
“We, the Conservatives, fought hard to get the £1b of funding for this project and now that Labour have taken over, the ambition and desire for investment in North Wales infrastructure has evaporated.
“Arguments over a financial blackhole are baseless. The money had already been allocated as part of the HS2 project so it was merely going to be re-allocated.
“This just shows the lacklustre approach of Labour. No ambition, no drive, no initiative.
“Let’s not forget that it is the Conservatives who are the ones with the ideas and who deliver on investment. We follow through. Indeed, the other huge infrastructure project in North Wales, the Conwy Tunnel, was initiated, funded and completed by a Conservative government.
“I urge the Labour Government to hold their nerve, to commit to future investment in North Wales and to stop blaming others for their own caution and concern”.
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi ymuno â chyn-Aelodau Seneddol i feirniadu awgrymiadau y bydd y cynllun i uwchraddio a thrydaneiddio prif reilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru yn cael ei ddileu.
Fis Hydref diwethaf, ymrwymodd y cyn-Brif Weinidog Rishi Sunak o leiaf £1 biliwn i uwchraddio'r seilwaith rheilffyrdd yn y rhanbarth. Ariannwyd yr ymrwymiad hwn drwy ryddhau arian a fwriadwyd yn wreiddiol ar gyfer yr HS2 rhwng Birmingham a Manceinion.
Yn anffodus, mae’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol presennol ar gyfer Cymru, Jo Stevens AS, wedi gwneud sylwadau sydd wedi codi amheuaeth am hynt y prosiect.
Wrth sôn am y newyddion dywedodd Janet:
"Rwy'n cytuno â’m cydweithwyr yn y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig sydd wedi beirniadu awgrymiadau y bydd y buddsoddiad yn llinell Gogledd Cymru yn cael ei ddileu.
"Fe wnaethom ni, y Ceidwadwyr, frwydro'n galed i gael y £1b o gyllid ar gyfer y prosiect hwn a nawr bod Llafur wedi cymryd yr awenau, mae'r uchelgais a'r awydd am fuddsoddiad yn seilwaith Gogledd Cymru wedi diflannu.
"Does dim sail i’r dadleuon dros dwll du ariannol. Roedd yr arian eisoes wedi'i ddyrannu fel rhan o brosiect HS2 felly dim ond ail-ddyrannu oedd angen ei wneud.
"Mae hyn yn dangos agwedd ffwrdd â hi Llafur. Dim uchelgais, dim penderfyniad, dim menter.
"Cofiwch mai'r Ceidwadwyr yw'r rhai sydd â'r syniadau ac sy'n sicrhau buddsoddiad. Rydyn ni'n driw i’n gair. Yn wir, cafodd y prosiect seilwaith enfawr arall yng Ngogledd Cymru, Twnnel Conwy, ei gychwyn a'i gwblhau gan lywodraeth Geidwadol.
"Rwy'n annog y Llywodraeth Lafur i bwyllo, ymrwymo i fuddsoddi yng Ngogledd Cymru yn y dyfodol ac i roi'r gorau i feio eraill am eu pwyll a’u pryder eu hunain".
DIWEDD