Back to the Future for infrastructure spending
ALTHOUGH the Swansea Bay region is attracting private investment, the same can’t be readily said of public sector cash. OK, you can argue that the City Deal initative represents a good slice of state support but it’s still heavily reliant on a chunk of commercial input.
This corner of South West Wales has had its share of disappointments in recent times. Rail electrification never reached the city and a tidal lagoon was deemed “too expensive”. So it’s no surprise that attention switched to devolved alternatives.
What a pity, however, that the UK Government’s plan to create Great British Railways to own and run the rail network infrastructure sees no role for Welsh input. It may be heralded as reform but it’s reform that only recognises priorities set in Whitehall.
Rail investment, especially at local and regional level, is already recognised as a catalyst for community regeneration. The same goes for cross-border linkages.
UK ministers may describe their plans as progress but for many in Wales it feels more like a case of Back to the Future.