National Assembly Committee recommends go-ahead for Minister to construct A40 improvement in Pembrokeshire

The National Assembly’s Special Assembly Procedure Committee on the “draft London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) (Penblewin to Slebech Park Improvement) Order 200-“ today publishes its report on the petitions of Pembrokeshire County Council and Mr.K.Jones of Sunnyside Farm, Robeston Wathen.

The Committee report recommends that Welsh Ministers should have the power to make the draft Order which would allow them to go ahead with the proposed Robeston Wathen by-pass as an improvement on the A40 road in Pembrokeshire.  The draft Order will give Welsh Ministers the powers to construct the new road as a three lane single carriageway (2 + 1 road).

In relation to the petition of Pembrokeshire County Council, the Report concludes that:

• Improvement to dual carriageway standard would not represent better value for money than the Assembly Government’s preferred three lane single carriageway option;

• The option in question avoids expending a very significant amount of public money to provide a standard of road which will not be justified on capacity grounds for over 30 years;  

• Taking into account all other relevant factors as well, the Assembly Government has demonstrated that the Order which the Welsh Ministers propose to make is expedient and in the public interest;

On the petition of Mr. Jones, whilst the Committee sympathises with the effect the proposed new road will have on Sunnyside Farm, the Committee nevertheless concludes that the net effect on the operation of that farm will not be such as to undermine its viability and is clearly insufficient to outweigh the overwhelming public interest in favour of constructing the new road.   

Christine Chapman AM, Chair of the Committee, said:

“The Committee has given a lot of consideration to the evidence and submissions arising from the petitions of Pembrokeshire County Council and local resident, Mr.K.Jones.  Our recommendation has been carefully deliberated.  

“In reaching its decision, the Committee had to consider ion the basis of all the evidence it has heard, if the proposed scheme satisfies the test of being expedient and in the public interest. The Committee finds that it does.”

The report with its full findings and conclusions has been published on the Committee’s website. Transcripts of the Committee hearing can also be found on the website.  

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-third1/bus-committees-third-so25-home.htm

Notes to Editors:

1. The Committee is the first Special Assembly Procedure Committee to be established. Further information on Special Assembly Procedure can be found here:

http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-legislation/bus-legislation-sub/bus-legislation-sub-special-orders.htm

2. The committee was established on Wednesday 16^th July 2008 in accordance with Standing Order 25.19.  The Members of the Committee are: Christine Chapman AM (Chair), Chris Franks AM, Michael German AM, Irene James AM, Nick Ramsay AM.

3. Pembrokeshire County Council was represented by Winston Roddick QC and Emyr Gweirydd Jones, Counsel. The Welsh Assembly Government was represented by Graham Walters, Counsel. Mr Jones was represented by Mr J. Nicholas of JJ Morris Chartered Surveyors.

4. The Committee’s remit was to consider petitions in relation to the draft London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40) (Penblewin to Slebech Park Improvement) Order  200-  (“the draft Order”) and to report to the Assembly in accordance with Standing Order 25.21. The Committee ceases to exist once it has reported.

5. Under Standing Order 25.23, where the Special Assembly Procedure Committee reports that the draft Order should be made, as is the case here, the Welsh Minister with responsibility for the Order may make it.   

6. Pembrokeshire County Council’s petition contended that the public interest demands that it should be designed from the outset as dual carriageway.

7. The petition of Mr. K. Jones, Sunnyside Farm, Robeston Wathen, contended that the Order should not be made because that length would divide Sunnyside Farm in two and thereby have a considerable adverse affect on the long-term viability of his farm.  

8. The Committee met to hear evidence and submissions on behalf of petitioners and the Welsh Assembly Government over the course of 7 days between 7 October and 24 November 2008. The Committee also visited Robeston Wathen and the area which would be affected on the 22^nd October 2008.