6. What assessment has the First Minister made of the importance of road connectivity to the economy in mid Wales? OQ59208

I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. That assessment is set out in 'Llwybr Newydd', the Welsh transport strategy. It confirms the importance of road connectivity for sustainable social and economic purposes, assessed against the varying needs of different parts of Wales.

Thank you for your answer, First Minister. I was pleased that the road improvement scheme at Moat Lane, Caersws was not scrapped as part of the recent roads review. This scheme is absolutely crucial to take place, not only for congestion, but there are a number of safety concerns at that point, and, sadly, a number of fatalities over a number of years. I know, First Minister, you'll be aware of this stretch, because you recently travelled to Llandinam, just a few miles up the trunk road.

Also connected to this particular scheme, and before the roads review was commenced, there were plans for a stand-alone footbridge over Caersws as well, and this scheme was linked to the road improvement scheme—rightly so; it made complete sense for that to be the case. But there are certainly safety concerns at this point as well, because pedestrians have to walk over this stretch of trunk road, where there is no capacity for a footbridge. So, I wonder, First Minister, if you can set out a timetable and any other further information in regard to this road improvement scheme, and also the stand-alone proposed footbridge, along with the wider active travel scheme in Caersws as well.

I thank Russell George for that, Llywydd, and I know that he’s been a consistent advocate of the Caersws scheme. I saw that he had raised it with the Minister on the floor of the Senedd back on 15 February, and he’s right to say that the scheme is to go ahead, following the roads review, for some of the reasons, including the safety reasons, that the Member has set out this afternoon. What will happen now is that the scheme will continue to develop, that some of the more recent recommendations that include additional safety and active travel elements will need to be planned into the project, and I’m afraid, like all schemes, it inevitably has to meet the same tests as any other road scheme, and then of affordability. But the case for the scheme has been consistently and well made by the Member, and the Minister responsible will have heard the points that he’s made this afternoon.