Freezing new road projects in Wales is 'wrong' says Welsh Secretary

Welsh secretary Simon Hart has said a Welsh Government decision to freeze all road building projects is "wrong".

Welsh Government said a review of all schemes where work hasn't started will start. Which includes the A55 in north Wales, Llandeilo bypass and a third Anglesey crossing.

Transport now comes under Julie James' global warming ministry and the review will look at whether money ought to be better allocated to trains and buses rather than new roads. Read details of the Welsh Government's announcement.

The move continues to be praised by Greta Thunberg.

Welsh secretary Simon Hart has told WalesOnline that he thinks the choice is "wrong".

Asked his reaction when he heard this news said: "I just thought 'come on'. We're just coming out of 15 or 16 months of extraordinary economic pressure on jobs, livelihoods, on individual families, businesses and individual investors, everyone who make the economy tick and that i just this is definitely an example of instead of trying to find methods for making the economy work better it was 'let's consider something to stop and stop it'.

"It simply feels wrong and seems like the incorrect attitude in my experience when we ought to be straining every sinew to make things better, make things various and quicker, easier, more effective. The very first chance to have the ability to demonstrate that, I figured a chance was missed."

The united kingdom Government continues to talk about building an M4 relief road – powers for which lie with Welsh Government.

"We're attempting to take a look at methods to kickstart the economy in this article covid era. I think that relies on infrastructure improvement and investment, that's road, rail, air, digital, all of the usual things which make the economy work. We've been busy trying to spend their recreational some time and holidays in Wales and not to say the necessity to wean people from the need necessarily to go on foreign holidays not only this season but in future too and when we're going to be we've got to possess a road network to aid it.

"As well as the supply chain and construction jobs which are related to big infrastructure schemes. For me, it simply seems like putting a brake on economic recovery which I think now over time will leave a couple of people feeling a little mystified.

"We musn't fall under the trap that the M4 or A55 aren't just Welsh roads but they are roads which connect Wales with the rest from the UK. It's important to people around the English side of the border, hauliers coming through from Europe and further afield so they are UK wide assets and a vital area of the UK road infrastructure. If you're unable to improve them and maintain, or produce a smoother experience for users then we're not only impeding economic recovery in Wales but actually it's not necessarily doing much to help economic recovery in the whole from the UK and beyond either.

"I think it's a pity and that i don't purchase the argument as yet.

"I'm assuming they're looking at this with the prism of net zero that is actually fine as most people are looking at every decision with that. But our net zero ambitions do not necessarily rely on a total freeze on all road infrastructure schemes in Wales nor should they. Clearly we want to try to minimise unnecessary road travel but there's a heck of the lot of road travel which is essential and we're looking at ways of making that more net zero friendly. Just putting a freeze on all these schemes which have been within the planning for some time I don't observe how which will necessarily help anybody at this stage."

Welsh Government continues to be inspired to respond.