By Sam Rowlands

MS for North Wales

We all know that transport in North Wales isn’t the best! Trains and buses are often cancelled or arrive late along with a myriad of other issues.

I asked the new Transport Minister in Welsh Government about this last week, because after twenty-five years of the Welsh Government it doesn’t seem like transport is getting any better.

The previous Transport Minister had an intense anti-road obsession, which, for us in North Wales was deeply damaging. All we want is a better road network in the region so North Walians can get to work and visit friends or family.

Unlike parts of Cardiff, the car is essential up here. Any transport policy needs to keep that firmly in mind.

To be fair to him, new Minister has had a welcome change of tone - but of course we must wait to see if the actions match the words!

A report from last February showed that seventeen road schemes for North Wales were being scrapped with only two of them set to go ahead.

That is a huge number being ditched, and will have a massive negative impact. The Minister said he would look at the projects that had been put on ice, which is a step in the right direction. However, I want to see those projects actively restarted in order to improve our roads, not letting them decay and wither.

It’s not just for convenience, it is a matter of safety for road users. You can be assured that I will keep campaigning for those improvements.

I’d also like to mention the Welsh Government’s default 20mph speed limits. There has been a lot of talk in the press recently about this issue, with the incoming Welsh Government saying they will change some roads.

This is another example of Labour in Wales talking the talk but not really walking the walk. The 20mph speed limits have been costly and unpopular and should be ditched immediately. Instead, they are fiddling around the edges but leaving the fundamental policy firmly in place.

It’s an interesting example of Ministers knowing they have messed up, but not really having the gumption to reverse their decision.

Remember, Welsh Conservatives are the only party in the Senedd who have consistently opposed default 20mph.

As ever, if you have any queries or issues you’d like to raise with me, then you can get in touch by emailing sam.rowlands@senedd.wales