Tackle quarry lorry misery
BRITAIN can restrict the free movement of labour after Brexit while remaining in the European single market, political parties in Wales have said.
In a joint submission, Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued for a Norwaystyle solution where people could continue to come to the UK from the EU provided they had a job to go to.
Carwyn Jones, the Welsh First Minister and leader of Welsh Labour, said such an arrangement would enable the UK to control immigration while remaining part of the single market.
He said: “We have offered a very commonsense approach to immigration where we say there is a freedom of movement - but to work.
“If you have got a job then you can move to that job.
“What we wouldn’t say is there is a general freedom of movement without any kind of restriction.
“That’s the system they have in Norway. I think people would find that a very sensible and pragmatic solution.”
The proposals are in sharp contrast with the plans set out last week by Theresa May, who said the UK would have to leave the single market to regain control over immigration.
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, accused the other parties of ignoring the wishes of Welsh voters who backed Leave in the referendum.
He said: “After seven months of flip-flopping, dithering and denial, the left-wing political establishment in Wales has clubbed together a late, half-baked plan in the effort to remain relevant and credible – ignoring many of the reasons why people voted to leave the European Union.
“Sadly, this ‘plan’ for Brexit has only sought to appease their own in the Cardiff Bay bubble – lacking serious consensus across the political spectrum and showing a blatant disregard for the wishes of the Welsh public.”
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said: “I think that a lot of people are reading into the result things that weren’t there.
“There are people who say that it was a vote against the single market membership, it was a vote against any more immigration, and we just don’t know that.
“The question now is how we leave. I’m pretty sure that most of those people who voted to leave didn’t vote to cause havoc to the Welsh economy, to put people out of work.
“The key issue is to have no tariffs or regulatory costs.
“If there was a bespoke deal that could achieve that, we would be prepared to look at that, but as things stand there has been no plan coming from the Prime Minister – no detail anyway.” VILLAGE residents are fed up with rumbling trucks leaving a trail of dust and noise as they transport slate from a nearby quarry.
Four trucks a day have been shipping slate from Moel Tryfan quarry in Rhosgadfan in Gwynedd, making life a misery for some, and for those living in the nearby villages of Rhostryfan, Carmel and Groeslon.
Gwynedd county councillor Aeron Jones says the issue has got worse since Caernarvonshire Crown Slate Quarries Ltd (CCSQ) were given permission to expand last year, allowing them to extract and process 36,000 tonnes of slate a year.
The Llanwnda councillor said he had received numerous complaints about heavy quarry traffic but CCSQ said there has been no recent change in the amount of traffic travelling to and from the quarry.
Cllr Jones added: “The roads up through the villages are narrow, and when there is an increase in traffic, in turn we see an increase in risk to pedestrians and children and noise and dust.
“I have been contacted by people in the area who feel that their properties are suffering due to the traffic. Horse riders have been alarmed when these lorries are passing them, and people walking in the villages where there are no pavements for them are in danger.
“A condition of the planning application was also that the quarry would set up a regular meeting with myself and other elected representatives in the area so that we could air these problems. This hasn’t happened.”
One Rhosgadfan resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The main road through the village can’t sustain and cope with heavy trucks passing through it each day.
“The engines from the trucks create a rattling sound which makes quite a bit of noise. The road is also very narrow, which can make it difficult for other road users.”
However, CCSQ insisted that a moratorium is in place to prevent HGVs accessing and leaving the quarry between 8.30am-9.30am and 2.45pm-3.45pm, during school drop-off and pick-up times.
A spokesperson added: “There’s been no recent change in Moel Tryfan quarry vehicle movement or numbers. We never ignore a justifiable complaint about vehicle movement – provided it is accompanied by verified vehicle details, such as complete licence plate number, or identifiable company names.
“Most local area residents understand that other heavy vehicles use what is, after all, a public highway; it is not only Moel Tryfan trucks that travel on those roads.
“While we closely monitor our own vehicles’ movements, we have no control over other road users.
“To further ensure discussion of issues and concerns relating to the quarry operation, we are organising a liaison group meeting (in February) of local residents and councillors. Such meetings will also allow us to share good news, such as confirming that the number of permanent jobs at the quarry has increased from three to five. We anticipate the creation of additional permanent jobs – and without any increase in vehicle movements.”