Eleanor Burnham

"Across North Wales" Short Debate in Plenary

I will speak briefly about the north Wales transport infrastructure, including the infamous A55, rail links and the possible alternative of shipping. The European route E22 from Dublin to Rotterdam is the main arterial route from Anglesey to Chester, Merseyside and beyond. Its deficiencies adversely affect the public and all types of businesses. With decreased tourism visits we need to do everything to ensure that visitors' experiences are of the best quality as soon as they set foot in Wales. While gathering information for this debate through the usual Members Research Service channels, I was slightly horrified to have been refused by the Minister data referring to maintenance and ongoing road works on the A55. I was told that the information would only be available through a specific ministerial question. Is this our open and frank democracy?

The Federation of Small Businesses described the transport system in north Wales as abysmal and not fit for purpose, while the chief inspector of North Wales Police, Geraint Anwyl, says that the situation is getting worse as the volume of heavy traffic increases. He goes on to outline a list of hazards that he believes endanger us, including there being no hard shoulder for the entire route, five bus stops with no protection on the expressway near Llanfairfechan, 88 lay-bys, some of which are too short for lorries to use safely, and a cycle track crossing the road near Penmaen-mawr-can you imagine it? Just visualise it; it is bizarre. There are also officially marked pedestrian crossing points, which is equally bizarre, and traffic roundabouts.

I believe that the increased status of the European route should be a positive point, welcomed for generating greater prosperity and business opportunities for the whole region. However, currently, due to the ongoing blockages, of which there are many, the route is inappropriate for today's needs. As far as tourism is concerned, perhaps we should consider moving some business to rail to free up the roads for tourists and others. A local Conwy hotelier is tearing his hair out. He described the A55 as dire and said that alternative transport was unfeasible because the infrastructure does not exist. Frighteningly, his business is losing approximately £15,000 to £20,000 a month in revenue-and this is a guy who knows his business-as a result of the negative impact of the A55 and its ongoing maintenance disruption; two of three main routes to his business were closed for repairs. T Only last week, potential customers coming into north Wales near Broughton were delayed for at least 30 minutes as a result of resurfacing. The first impression of access to north Wales is very poor. In a nutshell, the cost to business, including tourism, is in wasted time, wasted fuel-the cost of which is ever increasing, as we all know-and lost sales. hat is absolutely dire. Maintenance of just-in-time deliveries is hugely jeopardised in the present scenario. As I am sure most of us remember, this is a Japanese concept to reduce the need to hold goods in storage; basically, people get the goods just in time. It obviously relies on a fast, reliable transport system. Furthermore, the current situation means that businesses are losing contracts and customers. It is causing perishable goods to perish, and stationary vehicles cause greater pollution by burning ever more costly fuel in their delayed journeys. Another important factor is that there are no designated stopping areas for heavy goods vehicles on the A55. I believe that it is about 120 miles from the Chester side of the A55 to Anglesey, so it is a long stretch. In our recent conference, our party discussed this issue, and we have called for French-style frequent rest places, which we are calling 'hafanau', which are stopping places for HGVs in appropriate places, but, very importantly, where there is community approval. As I am sure the Minister realises, there is controversy surrounding one area near Caerwys at the moment. Such stopping places could also be used as gateways to the communities across the A55, off the main route, with tourists stopping to use toilets, shops and other facilities and finding out information on local towns and villages, thus generating increased off-route tourism.

There is an element of controversy with regard to foreign lorries from the EU, which we obviously wish to welcome. The Federation of Small Businesses and the Confederation of British Industry and local campaigners have all spoken of the vexing question of foreign transport vehicles passing through the north Wales region along the A55 or E22 route. These vehicles do not pay any fee and often-and this is obviously an issue-do not refuel in the area. There is therefore a loss of potential revenue to the area. Why do we not move much more of this freight off the roads and onto rail? There is the possibility of this in the Deeside area and in relation to a third crossing over the Menai Straits. Has the Minister thought about this issue? After all, the One Wales Government apparently aims to help achieve a significant increase in the amount of freight moved in and out of Wales by rail and shipping.

The FSB says that, currently, businesses cannot trust the railway as a reliable method of transport. I am challenging the Welsh Assembly Government and the Minister to invest adequate funds in infrastructure in order to provide a viable, sustainable transportation method and unblock the existing blockages on the A55. I also challenge the Minister and the Assembly Government to be much more creative and visionary. Why not access EU funds and electrify the railway from Crewe to Chester and then Holyhead? That has been on the cards anThe CBI also asserts that short sea shipping could be a workable alternative to using the A55 to move freight, as it is feasible and environmentally friendly. Only this month, the Bethesda-based company, Welsh Slate, switched some transportation of aggregate to shipping. The managing director, Alan Smith, said thatd discussed by many people over the years. 'using the sea is a good option, especially with the price of fuel the way it is at the moment', and that: 'Sea transport is something we want to expand and take more lorries off the roads in North Wales'. As we know, north Wales already has the port of Mostyn and one of the two deep water ports in Wales at Holyhead

A workable, environmentally friendly, sustainable and visionary transport strategy is desperately needed across north Wales. I recommend that the Welsh Assembly Government undertakes an urgent review of the ongoing projects and maintenance work. Why do we need miles and miles of cones upon cones, often when no work seems to be taking place? Can we not get rid of grass in the middle of the A55? We would then no longer need to cut it. Instead, we could have astroturf or even concrete, as on some of the route. Why on earth cannot some of this work take place in the late evening and overnight, particularly during the summer? Even these small changes would help to alleviate the frustration that most of us feel daily. I am sure that Carwyn Jones would be pleased to hear that, only the other day, while trying to avoid the blockage around Holywell en route from Wrexham to Llandudno, I unfortunately got held up in another blockage on the Mold to Denbigh road. So that is a caution about using the Mold to Denbigh road at the moment.

In a nutshell, the Welsh Assembly Government needs to have some vision. We need to adopt important strategies. We need to talk to business people, including the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses. We also need to talk to the tourism communities, which, unfortunately, because of the ongoing issue of the A55 and the trans-north Wales route, need your help. So, Minister, I hope that you are listening.