Shadow Minister for North Wales, Mark Isherwood AM, has questioned the Transport Minister Ken Skates this week over the development of the North Wales Metro, which aims to improve and enhance the transport network in North Wales.
Responding to the Minister’s Statement yesterday on ‘Metro Projects in Wales’, Mr Isherwood called for detail and clarification on a number of issues relating to the North Wales Metro development.
After noting that the Welsh Government announced its proposals for the North Wales Metro weeks after the UK Government announced its Growth Deal offer to North Wales, he asked the Minister what direct input the North Wales Growth Board and Economic Ambition Board have had into the design and delivery of the Metro, questioned him about the development of key hubs, and welcomed the Minister’s acknowledgement of the research showing that HS2 High-Speed Railway, if connected through the appropriate Crewe Hub, will have a beneficial economic impact for North Wales and the wider region.
Speaking in the Chamber, he said:
“You say you will develop key hubs, you refer to Shotton as an example to provide integrated bus services. Your Written Statement on the North Wales Metro last October said you were ‘working in partnership with Flintshire Council and bus operators to deliver a Bus Quality Partnership covering services’. Can you provide an update on that four months down the road in terms of that partnership? And what direct input, given their expressed interest in this, have Community Transport operators in north-east Wales had into the design and delivery of the North Wales Metro?
“You stated last October in your Statement that ‘having initially focused on the delivery of the Metro integrated transport hub approach in Deeside’, you intend to roll out the concept to other key employment hubs, including Wrexham, Rhyl, Prestatyn, St Asaph, Abergele, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, Llandudno and the Menai area, and made some reference to this earlier. Realistically, what timescales are you thinking of, notwithstanding a political clock in the future, to enable that to occur?”
He also asked the Minister how he will ensure better integration of decarbonisation technology.
He said:
“Your plans for Deeside Industrial Park, you say, will offer viable public transport options for commuters. In your Written Statement last October, you also talk about new Park-and-Ride site and active travel routes on Deeside Industrial Park. However, I understand there's been a failure of connectivity. For example, only two double chargers are being installed for the 240 parking spaces in that Park and Ride, and even that only occurred after sector intervention with the Council. So, how will you ensure better integration of decarbonisation technology as we take this forward?”
Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood added: “As the seven Conservative MPs across North Wales recently said following the Prime Minister’s confirmation that the HS2 project will proceed, ‘It is vital for the development of North Wales that plans for its own faster railway service are now included in the scoping and planning of High Speed North. That starts now by ensuring that the Crewe Hub is configured accordingly within HS2”.
