North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today called for an update from the Minister for Transport and Economy, Ken Skates AM, on the North Wales metro following comments made by the new Labour Leader of Flintshire County Council.
Speaking in today’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood said:
“The Welsh Government announced details of what was initially called the north-east Wales metro project in 2017 to improve public transport in North Wales.
“Today, the local The Leader newspaper has published comments made by the new Labour leader of Flintshire County Council, Ian Roberts, following comments he made during a meeting in County Hall, in which he says ‘there had only been limited discussions about how the main parts of the project would be implemented’, that 'Transport and the North Wales Metro is unfinished business with the Welsh Government', and that he thinks ‘it is of particular interest to really ask the Welsh Government what their intentions are for the North East Wales Metro'.
“Clearly, if those calls are not only coming more broadly but specifically from a Flintshire Council Leader who happens to be a member of your Party, I hope you'll agree that that merits a public response.”
Responding the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, stated that “work on delivering the metro vision is progressing well”.
In her response she said:
“A Transport for Wales business unit in North Wales has been established to support the delivery of the metro project, including the development of a new Deeside parkway railway station, an integrated Shotton railway station, and an Integrated Transport Hub at Wrexham General Rail Station. That work is continuing.
“Increasing weekday service frequency on the Wrexham-Bidston line to two trains per hour from the end of 2021 is an important aspect of delivering the north-east Wales metro, and we've provided funding to Flintshire County Council for schemes to improve access to and within the Deeside industrial park, with a focus on bus and active travel, and to Wrexham County Borough Council for improvements to Wrexham bus station. We're also progressing plans for the Flintshire corridor red route, which has been supported by the local authority and will be integral to the delivery of the metro.
“I think it should be recognised that implementing improvements, in many cases, does require the need to go through the statutory process, and we recognise that some of those interventions will not be quick, but we will begin the roll-out of our vision for the integrated metro system by focusing on those things that could be delivered quickly. If the new Leader has particular concerns, I'm sure that he'll take the opportunity to raise them directly with the Minister for Transport.”
