James Evans MS has challenged the Welsh over a £400,000 budget allocation for a feasibility study of the dangerous Pontybat junction on the A470, a scheme originally estimated at £7.2 million before it was shelved by the Welsh Government’s Roads Review.
While the money has been pitched by local MS Jane Dodds as a win for local road safety, James warned that without any funding committed beyond the feasibility stage, the promise of improvements is unlikely to materialise. James accused the Liberal Democrats of political spin and urged the Welsh Labour Government to confirm whether there is any intention to deliver the scheme in full.
In response, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates MS said a standard process is followed for new road schemes, beginning with a feasibility study, followed by an options assessment, business case development, and finally full funding approval. He added that the study at Pontybat was being undertaken in conjunction with the Welsh Liberal Democrats and stressed the importance of assessing all dangerous junctions and road sections as part of improving safety.
James Evans MS said:
“The Welsh Government’s budget deal with the Liberal Democrats announced a £400,000 allocation for a feasibility study at the hazardous Pontybat crossroads, a scheme originally estimated at £7.2 million before it was shelved by the Roads Review. A £400,000 study won’t fix the dangerous crossroads at Pontybat. But that is all the Lib Dems have managed to secure!
“However, anybody with an ounce of common sense will realize that without any additional resources committed to this project, it will not proceed to design and build stage!
“Jane Dodds MS has recently been shouting about the money she has secured and the promise of a new roundabout, but with no concrete plans, it seems the only roundabout they’re delivering is the magic roundabout, all spin and no substance!”
