Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:02 pm on 14 February 2023.
Minister, this has taken us back a good 15 years, undoing the good work of my predecessor, Ieuan Wyn Jones, when he was transport Minister, undoing the good work of your predecessors in mapping out why the case had been made for a third Menai crossing and which routes should be pursued and why. Can I also comment on the way that this announcement has been made? I have had a chance, in a short period of time, to read through the review and what it said about the Menai crossing. I have just heard reference there to a further review by the Burns wider look at north Wales travel; that's not mentioned in the roads review, as far as I can see. We have here a decision that states very clearly,
'The A55 Third Menai Crossing should not proceed.'
That is as clear as it possibly could be. It explains why the third crossing, as planned, runs contrary to Government policy, but the decision itself not to proceed with the crossing, I would argue, runs contrary to the Government's own policy. Look at what the report says among the five stated objectives behind the need for a bridge: improving network resilience and reducing reliance on the use of the Menai suspension bridge. I see no reference whatsoever to the fact that the Menai suspension bridge has been closed for three months. I'd love to know when this was signed off. There was mention of—