North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has sponsored and spoken at this evening’s launch of Furrer+Frey’s White Paper on ‘Developing Sustainable, Agile, Multimodal Transport Solutions for Wales’, referring to their findings that only 48% of people are currently satisfied with public transport regionally in Wales – with just 5% very satisfied in North Wales.
Furrer+Frey are currently working on several key transport infrastructure projects in Wales.
Their paper takes the views of people in Wales and applies them to real world solutions to improve public transport. It focuses on the benefits of electrification of public transport.
Speaking at the event, Mr Isherwood, who is a Member of the Assembly Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee, referred to the transport needs of North Wales.
He said:
“Last September I led an Assembly debate on the North Wales Growth Deal, following publication by the North Wales Economic Ambition Board of ‘A Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales’, and its submission to the UK and Welsh Governments. Our motion recognised the importance of transport connections within North Wales, and between North Wales and the north west of England and the Midlands.
“North Wales has the highest proportion of travel to work by car rates in the UK and Poor transport infrastructure is strangling economic growth.
“Freight from Ireland arrives at Holyhead by HGV/Ro-Ro and makes its onward journey along congested roads.
“At a meeting in November 2012, it was agreed that the North Wales Economic Ambition Board would build a business case for the electrification of the rail line from Holyhead to Crewe, and develop actions and strategies for transport in North Wales.
“It is in this context that the North Wales Economic Ambition Board states “the vision complements the developing strategy for the Northern Powerhouse, is fully integrated with the Strategy Growth Bid submission of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, and has the Growth Track 360 plan for rail investment at its core.
“Both North Wales and the UK Government therefore need to hear from the Welsh Government how it proposes to respond and take this forward.
“I therefore welcome the fact that today’s launch is focused on the sustainable development and delivery of transport infrastructure throughout Wales.”