Welsh Government must strengthen the economic infrastructure of north Wales – says National Assembly committee
22 August 2013
Strengthening the infrastructure of Wales as a cohesive unit to enhance its economic competitiveness is imperative, according to a National Assembly for Wales committee.
The Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister has written to the First Minister about a series of major infrastructure issues affecting north Wales, including the upgrade of the Wrexham to Saltney Junction rail line. The Committee has called on the Welsh Government to show “leadership and clarity of purpose” in progressing the scheme after hearing it has been hit by significant delays.
The scheme, estimated at costing £36 million pounds, would double up the railway line between Wrexham and Chester providing increased capacity and opportunities for significant economic development.
At a meeting in public in Rhosllanerchrugog, near Wrexham last month, the Committee was told that there was a lack of Welsh Government “levers” over Network Rail (the organisation charged with maintaining and improving the UK rail network) to push the scheme forward.
In supporting efforts to secure devolution of further powers over rail infrastructure, the Committee called for progress on the Welsh Government’s negotiations with Network Rail and a clear timetable for when the work will take place.
“The Wrexham to Saltney Junction scheme promises significant benefits for the people of north Wales and its delay is disappointing,” said David Melding AM, Chair of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister.
“The Committee would like to see Ministers show leadership and clarity of purpose in bringing this scheme forward as soon as possible.”
Regarding major road infrastructure projects, the Committee called for further detail on implementation of a scheme to remove the current bottleneck at the A494 Aston Hill, citing the A494/A55 corridor as a vital gateway to Wales.
On the subject of major energy projects, the Committee heard of concerns about the impact on local communities.
A question submitted to the Committee by members of the public via Twitter asked what the Welsh Government was doing to ensure that communities receive some benefits from major infrastructure developments (for example through direct financial payments, support for wildlife projects or the ownership of community-based renewable energy schemes).
The Committee concluded that there needs to be a more rigorous and strategic approach taken across all forms of major infrastructure development and has called on the Welsh Government to set out its thinking and approach on this important issue.
“The question of local community benefits from major infrastructure projects came from members of the public who contacted the Committee via our Twitter hashtag #FMWQT,” said Mr Melding.
“The Committee was pleased to hear the First Minister respond positively to the idea of local communities benefitting directly and he mentioned the need to develop ‘broader thinking’ in this area and to use the new Planning Reform Bill to secure new arrangements.
“We would like to see the fruits of this new approach.”
The Committee makes 10 recommendations in a letter to the First Minister, including:
How the First Minister proposes to develop the Welsh Government’s thinking and approach to ensuring that local communities receive direct benefits from all forms of major infrastructure developments, whether located in or affecting their areas.
The need for the Welsh Government to show leadership and clarity of purpose in bringing forward the Wrexham to Saltney Junction scheme as soon as possible.
When a scheme to remove the current bottleneck at the A494 Aston Hill will be implemented.