North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to respond to calls for support for the formation of a Regional Transport Body and Transport Fund in North Wales.

In yesterday’s ‘Questions to the First Minister’ in the Assembly Chamber, Mr Isherwood said a key call in the North Wales Growth Deal Bid is for the Welsh Government to delegate powers to a new North Wales Regional Transport Body and asked for a response to this.

He said:

“The 'West and Wales Strategic Rail Prospectus' was launched in Westminster yesterday - with Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, speaking alongside the UK Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling - a proposal developed by a partnership of public and private sector bodies on both sides of the (North Wales) border. Clearly, we also support the proposals within that. But parallel to that and critical to its success will be the calls in the Growth Deal Bid for North Wales.

“How, therefore, does the Welsh Government respond to the call, or the invitation, in the Growth Deal Bid for North Wales, which went to both Governments, inviting the Welsh Government to support the formation of a Regional Transport Body and a Regional Transport Fund, where additional powers will be needed to enable the planning of integrated passenger transport networks?”

The Leader of the House, Julie James, who was answering questions on behalf of the First Minister, said:

“My understanding is it's part of the consideration of the connectivity that I was just talking about. The Cabinet Secretary's indicating to me that it will be part of the consideration, but, if the Member wants to write for very specific details, I'm sure he'd be happy to give you specifics.”

Mr Isherwood added: “If North Wales is to maximise the benefits it seeks, the Welsh Government must not stand in the way of the additional powers, responsibilities and flexibilities which are sought by our region.”