4. What discussions has the Minister had with the Minister for Climate Change regarding repairing roads in north Wales that were affected by flooding this year? OQ56817

Diolch. I have not had any specific discussions with the Minister for Climate Change. However, transport officials have been in discussion with local authorities and are awaiting applications for funding this financial year for ground investigation and detailed design works. Local authorities are fully aware of what was required, and the sooner Welsh Government receives the information requested, the sooner it can be considered.

Thank you for your answer. The B5605 at Newbridge near Wrexham, as I'm sure you will have guessed I was going to raise, was swept away, of course, by a landslip caused by storm Christoph recently. It isn't a rural back road, as you know. It's quite an important through road for a large number of communities, a large number of people, and it transpires now it could be two, maybe three years before that road is fixed, if at all, if funding is available. Now, the delays have already led to greater subsidence at the site, which will only ultimately mean a greater cost to fix the road. So, in your role as Minister for north Wales, can I ask what efforts you've made to make fixing this road a greater priority of Welsh Government, and, indeed, what efforts you've made to try and make sure that funding is available to fix the road as soon as possible?

So, whilst I haven't had a discussion with the Minister for Climate Change, I have had a discussion with officials at Wrexham council. I did a visit to the aqueduct, and, of course, as you know, the road that you refer to, which, of course, Wrexham council are responsible for, is not far away. So, I know there's been a further meeting between transport officials and officers at Wrexham council. As I say, we're waiting for an application for funding for this financial year for ground investigation and the design works. That, then, will inform, obviously, any future application that comes from the council for funding the construction work that's required. I know that Wrexham council did submit a bid for funding to make urgent repairs to the flood risk management infrastructure. But that funding—it was, obviously, previously in my portfolio—is only available when it's acting in accordance with the Flood and Water Management Act and in line with the policy that's set out in the national strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management infrastructure and the grant memorandum. So, their bid was unsuccessful because any repair works wouldn't reduce the risk of flooding, which, obviously, is the reason funding is given. So, I appreciate that it's very frustrating, but it is really up to the council now to make sure that they provide the information that the Welsh Government have asked for. So, I will continue to press for this. Obviously, it is a matter of urgency, but I'm afraid that the ball is firmly in the council's court. 

Good afternoon, Minister. Flooding caused by last winter's storm—storm Christoph—had a devastating impact on communities in the Vale of Clwyd, most notably with the destruction of the historic Llanerch bridge, which lies between Trefnant and Tremeirchion, and isolating these communities as they're rural. The latest estimates put the start of the works to replace the bridge during the summer of 2023. I don't find this acceptable, as don't over 300 of my constituents, who recently signed a petition online calling for a swift resolution. Do you agree with me, Minister, that the historic bridge should be replaced sooner and will you work with the local authority to expedite the reconstruction of the Llanerch bridge? Thank you very much.

Obviously, in my capacity as Minister for north Wales, again, this has not been raised directly with me, but I'm sure that it has been raised—I'm not even sure if you haven't raised it—with the Minister for Climate Change. But I will certainly ask where the bid is and what work has been done with organisations to have a look at this bridge in Llanerch and I will write to the Member.

I'm aware of quite a lot of infrastructure in north Wales that's been impacted by flooding, including those two examples that have been raised today, and they've not fitted that criteria for funding that the Minister mentioned earlier. I am aware, as previous cabinet member for transportation, that, every year, there's an underspend that usually goes to the trunk road agency. I think, last year, there was an underspend of £16 million and previously £20 million—it's quite a significant amount of underspend that goes back, sometimes to local authorities, but mainly the trunk road agency, which does have quite a lot of funding each year that I'm aware of. And with the pause on building new roads as well, could that money be reallocated to help with infrastructure that's been damaged by flooding, which would greatly help local authorities that are really cash-strapped in north Wales? That's the question to you, thank you.

Thank you. As I just referred, that budget sits with the Minister for Climate Change, or the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, and, as you're aware, he's currently doing a review of roads. I'm not personally aware of any underspend and, obviously, we're not very well into this financial year yet. But, clearly, it might be advisable if you wrote to the Deputy Minister for Climate Change on that specific point around his budget.