MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Simon Hart has voiced his frustration after the Welsh Government announcement on a halt on all major new road projects, looks to scupper plans for a Llandewi Velfrey by-pass.

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters announced on Tuesday (June 22) a freeze on new road building projects, whilst a review of highway schemes across Wales is carried out.

With the Welsh Government’s recently-published Programme for Government showing how they plan to act decisively to tackle the climate emergency, Lee Waters told the Senedd: “Since 1990, Welsh emissions have fallen by 31 per cent, but to reach our statutory target of Net Zero emissions by 2050, we need to do much more.

“In the next 10 years, we are going to need to more than double all the cuts we have managed over the last 30 years, if we are going keep temperature rises within safe limits. That means changes in all parts of our lives. Transport makes up some 17 per cent of our total emissions and so must play its part.”

“We need a shift away from spending money on projects that encourage more people to drive and spend more money on maintaining our roads and investing in real alternatives that give people a meaningful choice.”

The full terms of reference for the review will be published in due course. However, the review is expected to consider how the Welsh Government can shift spending towards better maintaining existing roads, rather than building new ones, and look at all proposed road investments, whether funded directly by the Welsh Government or indirectly by grants.

The membership of the external panel that will carry out the review will be announced at a later date.

Speaking after the announcement, local MP Simon Hart said: “I cannot believe that Llandewi Velfrey by-pass has once again been snatched away from residents.

“This road is vital for the safety of the village and we have been campaigning for it for more than a decade.

“It was only months away from a start date in 2018 when the contractor went bankrupt. After a lengthy delay, work was due to start again this summer.

“The local Labour councillor and Labour MS for the region welcomed the news that it was going ahead and highlighted how vital its improvement is for economic prosperity and safety.

“Now the Welsh Government has called a halt to all road projects, so I presume they will now be lobbying their Government to change its mind and let it go ahead without even further delay!” he added.

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz recently welcomed the news that the construction of the Llanddewi Velfrey bypass was due to start this summer.

The bypass, first discussed over 10 years ago, would see a new road from Penblewin roundabout pass to the north of the village of Llanddewi Velfrey before re-joining the A40.

It will add overtaking lanes, improving journey times and road safety for both users and residents of the village.

Along with the bypass, the Penblewin to Redstone Cross improvements have also been scheduled to start this summer.

“These improvement works to the A40 are long overdue, but will be welcomed by the local community and businesses in West Wales, including our ports,” said Clr. Kurtz recently.