10. How is the Welsh Government supporting residents affected by the A465 dualling work in the Hirwaun area? OQ58407

Transport for Wales is the acting authority responsible on behalf of the Welsh Government for ensuring that the contractor is fulfilling their responsibilities and duties to the residents of Hirwaun and those affected in the area. 

Thank you, Deputy Minister. On 8 August, I attended a public meeting in Hirwaun arranged by local councillors Karen Morgan and Adam Rogers. It was clear that the work was having a major impact on individuals and businesses, and although there was an acknowledgement of the impact from Future Valleys Construction and Rhondda Cynon Taf council, it was clear that there were no short-term solutions to the problems raised, including major concerns regarding safety following an increase in accidents in the area due to the work. May I invite the Minister to visit the area and to meet local councillors and residents to see the impact of this work—work commissioned by the Government—and work with Future Valleys Construction, through Transport for Wales, to seek urgent solutions before someone is seriously injured or killed in an accident, and before businesses in the area fail due to the impact on them?

Well, I fully acknowledge that large road schemes like this are disruptive. They are noisy. They do cause harm to the environment. They do create considerable emissions. It's one of the reasons why we are reviewing our approach to road building. Just to note one point that Heledd Fychan made about this road being commissioned by the Government, I think it was commissioned by Ieuan Wyn Jones when he was the transport Minister when there was a coalition Government, so I don't think it's quite fair to make the insinuation that she does. It is being led, as you know, by a consortium, the Future Valleys consortium, and they assure us they have a whole series of measures in place to liaise with the local community, they have a range of engagement activities, they have a large reach on social media where they'll inform people when there are road closures. There is a community outreach officer whose role it is to meet with residents and community councillors who have concerns, and that's the right place to take the concerns. If you don't feel that you are getting satisfactory answers, by all means get in touch with me again, but that should be the first port of call. 

As I say, we do need to think very hard about these large, expensive and difficult road schemes and whether or not continuing to do what we've always done is going to produce the result that we all want to see if we're going to achieve net zero and we're going to achieve well-being in our communities. 

I thank the Deputy Minister.