RCT Cabinet back spend of £1billion on M4 in Newport
RCT's Labour Cabinet last week formally backed the Welsh Government's proposals to spend around £1billion on improvements to the M4 around Newport.
The controversial plans have been criticised by politicians across party, by environment groups and by the Federation of Small Businesses, but despite huge opposition former Minister Edwina Hart was determined to press ahead with it.
There is now a public inquiry into the proposed scheme, and the official response from RCT Cabinet is that because of the strategic importance of the M4 the plans should go ahead. Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Powell says
"Whilst we do not dispute the importance of the M4 as one of the major road arteries into South Wales we do question whether this amount of investment into one project is going to bring any real and lasting benefits.
"There are other proposed routes that could be looked at which were less expensive and not so damaging to the environment but the Labour Minister was set against those. We think that the money could be better spent on a variety of other projects to improve road networks and public transport across Wales.
"I cannot understand why the Labour party in RCT are giving this project their backing when it will mean less money for the Welsh Government to spend elsewhere. What benefit will RCT actually receive from this? It may ease traffic flow very slightly along the M4 corridor around Newport but here we are still stuck with a road network that makes it a nightmare for commuters and a public transport system that is second rate. Our priorities should be in fighting for improvements here."
AberdareOnline would add
Labour run Welsh government can’t seem to establish what their priorities are, upgrading the M4 at the Newport tunnels should have been sorted over15 years ago and Welsh labour are still talking about it.
The A470 is a disaster at peak times with nothing planned to make substantial improvements for daily commuters.
Public services are a joke traveling from the valleys in and out of the Welsh capital Elizabeth De Jong Director of Policy, RDG tells The Welsh Affairs Committee she believes figures show that Arriva TW has done a good job with the current franchise. Rail commuters who use valley lines will tell a different story.
Cynon Valley has lost a direct bus route to Cardiff what has Welsh labour done to replace this serves for Cynon Valley residents?
