Labour ministers have been accused of once again neglecting and ignoring North Wales with their plans for the Metro by the Welsh Conservatives.
Over £1 billion has been earmarked for the South Wales Metro, but only £50 million of this has been allocated for the North Wales Metro project.
The Welsh Conservatives are also concerned that the Labour administration is becoming “overly-reliant” on the Metro projects as a solution to Wales’ transport problems.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, who spoke in the Senedd today following an update on the Metro, said:
“The Metro isn’t going to be an all singing, all dancing, rail scheme that will serve as a silver bullet for our infrastructure and climate challenges.
“Labour’s transport plans involve buses and bicycles, so it is vital that ministers still invest in our road network and ensure it is up to scratch.
“Such investment is particularly important for people living in our rural areas – where our public transport system is shambolic – who rely on cars to get to work and hospital appointments.
“It is clear that Labour’s over-reliance on the Metro as an immediate transport solution will be damaging to the Welsh economy and people’s day to day lives, without concurrent investment into road improvements.”
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS, added:
“The people and communities of North Wales deserve our fair share of investment but yet again we are being let down by the Welsh Labour Government.
“It is grossly unfair that North Wales is receiving just £50 million of the £1,000 million being spent on metro projects in Wales. That figure is an insult to the people of North Wales, and it is no wonder that we feel like poor relations to people in the south.
“We deserve so much better than this.”
