North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has raised the concerns of local businesses regarding the Welsh Government’s chosen route for the Caernarfon to Bontnewydd Bypass.
Speaking in yesterday’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said businesses in the area have raised concern with him “over what they have described as the total intransigence of the Welsh Government over 10 years in considering the impact on jobs and businesses locally”.
He said:
“Could I call again, following calls last week, for a Statement on the A487 Caernarfon to Bontnewydd bypass, although my request comes from a slightly different angle? We know that there was a Public Inquiry. We know that, following the Inquiry, the Welsh Government said it would consider the Inquiry report and make a decision by the winter. We know that, in March, the Welsh Government said it needed more time to consider the plans, but concerns have been raised with me that a document detailing objections to the proposed Yellow Route was presented at the Public Inquiry on behalf of local businesses but, following legal representations from the Welsh Government’s Barrister, they were refused the right to question the Welsh Government on the contents of the document. The Barrister argued that they should have gone to Judicial Review following the publication of the draft orders. However, having taken legal counsel, they were advised that no Judge would make a decision based on a Draft Report and that any Judicial Review would only be possible on the issuing of the orders.
“They have raised concern with me over what they have described as the total intransigence of the Welsh Government over 10 years in considering the impact on jobs and businesses locally. They do support strongly a bypass, but have been trying to put forward their case - albeit without success to date - in asking the Welsh Government to adopt the Orange or Black route to protect businesses and jobs.
“This is a very important matter. The document I referred to is a detailed submission, which confirms that, if you read properly the original submissions, there was 75 per cent local support for the Black route. That was not presented in the WelTAG evidence; it wasn't questioned at the Public Inquiry. I therefore support calls for a Statement to the Assembly on this important scheme and in the context of these valid objections and a real threat to jobs in two major local employers on the route.”
Leader of the House, Julie James AM replied: “There's a public inquiry under way. The Member has made his remarks about the conduct of that Inquiry, but, clearly, it wouldn't be right for the Government to comment on the conduct and legal submissions in a Public Inquiry.”
Mr Isherwood added: “The Public Inquiry was closed on the 21 August 2017. The document I referred to noted that although all route options were appraised using the 2008 Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG), this failed to mention a huge number of questionnaires which were amended to include the Black Option on the advice of the official who was in charge of the project at that time. This means that when all the completed forms are taken into account, the results show that 75% supported the Black Option, but only 6% the Welsh Government’s preferred Yellow Option.”