North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Cabinet Secretary for Transport to respond to calls in North Wales for more capacity and flexibility to make decisions at a regional level.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter with the Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates AM, during a question to him in the Assembly yesterday on improving Transport in North Wales.
He said:
“The North Wales Economic Ambition Board published at the end of June a ‘Growth Vision for North Wales Draft Proposition Document’, which identified ‘poor transport links and physical infrastructure’ as ‘hindering journey time, especially to major hubs’, and identified five Integrated Travel Zones they wished to focus on, including the A483 and Wrexham Town Centre, as well as Deeside and through to North Anglesey.
“How do you respond to the statement in this plan, or Proposition Document, that they seek the support of UK and Welsh Governments ‘to be given more capacity and flexibilities to make key decisions at a regional level’ where ‘our approach advocates regionalism and devolution'?
“I know you have commented on this in response to my questions before, but time has now passed. Can you bring us up to date on your approach to this?”
The Cabinet Secretary replied: “I very warmly welcome the proposal within the proposition document for those five key zones. I also very warmly welcome the ask within the proposition document for the creation of a regional transport body. I think this could be immensely beneficial in terms of accelerating the progress that's being made in terms of public transport and transport infrastructure in the region. I look forward to the coming months and to challenging in challenge sessions the North Wales Growth Deal propositions and to ensure that we get a fair deal not just from Welsh Government, but also from the UK Government, and that local authorities are also able to contribute to get maximum impact for the people of North Wales from this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
Mr Isherwood added: ““The five Integrated Travel Zones I referred to, stretching from the Deeside Corridor to North Anglesey, are identified as ‘areas where there is conflict between local journeys and longer distance travel on the strategic road network’.
“The Draft Proposition Document states ‘new powers and responsibilities are sought (for North Wales) to facilitate growth in key policy areas such as transport and employment’, which will require the Labour Government in Cardiff to loosen its grip.”