8. Welsh Conservatives Debate: The transport network

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:19 pm on 22 June 2022.

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Photo of Natasha Asghar Natasha Asghar Conservative 4:19, 22 June 2022

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I move the motion tabled in the name of my colleague Darren Millar. 

It's no secret that I've been in my role for over a year, and after having conversations with numerous members of the public, various bodies, various organisations, the conclusion that I've come to is that the transport network in Wales is just not fit for purpose. Whether we're talking about roads, railways or bus services, the sad fact is that this Welsh Labour Government has presided over the deterioration of services and infrastructure.

There comes a point when we cannot keep blaming Westminster for matters that this Welsh Government is responsible for. After more than 20 years in power, Welsh Labour has delivered gridlocked and congested roads, an inefficient and unreliable rail service and fewer buses serving communities, particularly in rural areas. We are all road users, whether we drive, cycle or travel by bus. We all rely on the road network to sustain us with the food we eat and the products we all buy—they are all transported by road.

In 2018, our own Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, of which my late father was a member, produced a report called 'The State of Roads in Wales'. This report warned four years ago, prior to COVID, that the lack of money and priority for repairs stood out and that without sufficient funding the roads we have will deteriorate. In oral evidence, the Freight Transport Association described Wales's roads as, and I quote, 'deteriorating'. The Road Haulage Association suggested, and I quote again, that

'the roads are getting worse, particularly where there have been previous patches.'

The Confederation of British Industry broadened the issue to consider congestion as well as condition, emphasising the damage being done to the economy by the cost of delay to freight operators working to timed delivery slots. The committee made a number of recommendations, one of which called on the Welsh Government and local government to ensure that priority and funding was given to cost-effective long-term planned maintenance of our roads network. Sadly, the Welsh Government has ducked the challenge and failed to deliver the modern, safe road network that Wales so desperately needs.

Twelve months ago, the Deputy Minister announced a freeze on all new road building and road improvement projects here in Wales. More than 50 projects to improve the road network, including vital arteries such as the M4, the A55, the Llanddewi Velfrey bypass and the A470 were all halted. Since the announcement of the freeze, I've been trying to find out exactly how much money has been spent on projects that are now on hold. A simple task, you may all think. Not so. The Deputy Minister, in his latest attempt at obfuscation, dated 13 June 2022, said, and I quote:

'The panel are carefully considering a range of cost and benefits in their deliberations, including the estimated financial cost of schemes to Welsh Government as part of their work.'

I'd like to know why the Deputy Minister is refusing to give a straight answer to my question. What is he trying to hide? Is it that thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, dare I say even millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been frittered away on projects that may not even proceed? The people of Wales, as do all of us sitting here in this Chamber, have a right to know. The Deputy Minister's aspiration to get people out of their cars and onto public transport would have more credence if buses and trains were actually a viable option. But they're not. The number of bus journeys—[Interruption.] I will. I'll take an intervention. Go on.