Assurances sought over station

ASSEMBLY Members discussing a petition against an academic’s proposals to take Neath station off the main line to London have asked for further assurances from ministers.

The petition, launched in April by Plaid Cymru member and activist Bethan Phillips, attracted more than 10,000 signatures.

The Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee discussed the petition on Tuesday June 19 after accepting it on the basis that the the proposals by Professor Mark Barry of Cardiff University had arisen from work commissioned by the Welsh Government.

Speaking at the committee, AM Mike Hedges said: “I’d like to get a further assurance from the cabinet secretary, Ken Skates, in writing that we can pass onto the petitioners and others.

“We’ve got here that the government view is that Neath station should be protected and enhanced.

“I’d like the cabinet secretary to confirm that both he and the Welsh Government have no intention of supporting any removal of Neath Station from the south Wales main line and if such a proposal did come up they would actively work against it.”

Committee chairman AM David Rowlands reminded members that Mr Skates had made a statement in the chamber saying Neath station was definitely not going to be coming off the main line.

The proposal to take Neath off the mainline was proposed by Professor Barry as part of his Swansea Bay Metro concept.