Bypass to be built despite road freeze
A LONG-AWAITED bypass for a Carmarthenshire town will go ahead despite the Welsh Government’s freeze on new road projects.
The government announced last Tuesday it was stopping all new road building projects in Wales as part of a review to reduce carbon emissions. The decision means the Deeside “Red Route”, which has been opposed by environmental campaigners for the proposed destruction of ancient woodland, has been put on hold – as well as a third crossing between Anglesey and the mainland.
The announcement last week was greeted with dismay by many Llandeilo
residents, who feared the town’s long-awaited bypass would not be realised but the Welsh Government has now said the proposed £50m bypass is not part of the review. The Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters had said last week that the scheme would be allowed to progress to its next stage before being halted along with all other new road schemes. A spokesman said: “The Llandeilo bypass, which formed part of the budget agreement between
Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Labour government in the previous Senedd, will not form part of the roads review.”
We had asked for details of all roads covered by the decision but was told a definitive list will not be available until an independent panel is formed. Mr Waters said he anticipated the review would be published within a year.
Welsh Labour ministers agreed the bypass as part of a deal with Plaid Cymru to get the 2017-18 budget passed. Work was supposed to begin in 2019, but was delayed until 2022 in February last year and then until 2025.
Residents have been calling for action for decades to prevent lorries driving through the main street causing heavy congestion.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said the bypass was vital for the town. “Plaid Cymru has long argued that a bypass is vital for Llandeilo.
“There is a desperate need to address the unacceptably high air pollution levels and the street safety issues within the town.
“The people of Llandeilo have been campaigning for a bypass for over 50 years and numerous promises have been made over a number of years to local residents,” he said.
Mid and West Wales MS, Cefin Campbell, added: “We cannot continue with a situation where residents and visitors to Llandeilo are having to suffer high air pollution levels and of having to endure heavy lorries and buses mounting the pavements along the narrow streets.”