* Ken Skates (centre) with campaigners Frank Hemmings (left) and Derek Wright at the Newbridge site last April.
Transport issues in the area have been highlighted again in the Senedd by local MS Ken Skates.
The
Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South raised the urgent need for improvements to
the A483 in November, calling for an update on the Welsh Government’s review of
the key local route and saying work to make Junction 1 at Ruabon safer was
vital.
Mr
Skates, the former Transport Minister, followed up on the ‘crucial’ local
issues by writing to Minister Lee Waters, who is now in charge of transport
matters in Wales.
He
also pointed out the increased traffic on local roads because of A483
congestion and delays to repairing the B5605 at Newbridge, which Wrexham
Council is still to announce a start date for almost 10 months after the Welsh
Government announced funding had been awarded.
The
Minister has now responded saying: “I am sorry to hear about the continuing
problems your constituents are experiencing at Ruabon. As advised in the
Siambr, we believe the closure of Newbridge Road (B5605) is contributing to the
increased traffic volumes in this area as motorists look to take alternative
routes.
“We
awarded funding of £2.805m to Wrexham County Borough Council from the Resilient
Roads Fund for the remedial works at Newbridge Road. The council will be best
placed to advise on when works will be completed, which should alleviate
congestion in and around junction 1 of the A483.
“My
officials contacted GoSafe on the back of your concerns regarding the B5907
near St Mary’s Church in Wales School and they have confirmed that they will
undertake enforcement.”
In
2018, while Economy and Transport Minister, Mr Skates announced funding for
work to improve junctions 3 to 6 on the A483. The Welsh Government, however,
later paused all new road projects and said they would be reviewed.
In
his letter to Mr Skates last week, Lee Waters said: “The final report of the
independent Roads Review Panel has now been received. On November 30, I
published a written statement setting out that our decision-making has been
extended by the impact of the UK Government budget situation and we will
publish a way forward shortly.
“With
respect to Junctions 3 to 6 on the A483, officials have progressed procurement
of technical advisors so that the next stage of developing proposals can
proceed at pace if a decision is made to continue to support this work.”
This
week, Mr Skates said: “These are crucial local issues for our area and they
need urgent attention. I’m grateful for the Minister’s commitment to helping
resolve them.
“I now eagerly await an announcement from the Welsh Government that the long-awaited improvements to the A483 will go ahead. In the meantime, we urgently need positive news from Wrexham Council about Newbridge and when the work to reopen the road will get under way.”
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