Following views from transport expert Professor Stuart Cole, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for transport Natasha Asghar MS, has expressed concern for the unseen costs that Labour's 20mph blanket project will have on the Welsh Economy. Ms Asghar said, "The concerns raised by Professor Stuart Cole highlight even further the lack of thinking the Labour Government has done on this … [Read more...]
Welsh Ministers’ car trips revealed
Wales’ 14 Welsh Government Ministers used official cars for nearly 2,000 trips in 12 months. An answer to a written question by the Welsh Conservatives showed that the Labour Government has used ministerial cars 1,979 times from May 2022 to April 2023. The most travelled in official cars was the Minister for Social Justice and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, at 270,and the fewest car journeys were made … [Read more...]
Councils planning to sweep away new 20mph limit
Councils across Wales are preparing to exempt scores of roads from the new 20mph default speed limit in under a month’s time. The new lower limit is due to take affect on 17 September at a cost of about £26.7 Million to Welsh ratepayers but the legislation means the new lower limit has to come in first and then be rescinded and the current 30mph limit reapplied and roads resigned. This will add … [Read more...]
Transport for Wales spending going off the rails
Transport for Wales has spent £14.2M on 40 consultants over two years at it rolls out its Metro project, but only six firms were registered in Wales, according to an investigation by Welsh Conservatives. The two-year spending spree included HR advice, management and IT assistance and the Tories say the initial £5 billion project is spiralling out of control and overdue. Commenting on the … [Read more...]
Cardiff Bus axing routes on eve of 20mph speed limit
Cardiff Bus services are drastically changing from early next month. The operator says funding has been cut by Welsh Government and only 80% of passengers are now using buses compared to before the pandemics, so it has to make savings. It comes as an embarrassment for Welsh Government which will be introducing a nationwide 20mph speed limit on 17 September and wanted to get motorists out of cars … [Read more...]
Swansea investment stalls
Swansea Council built a car park and space for restaurants over a year ago yet they remain empty and have yet to complete a much needed hotel near Swansea Arena. Welsh Conservative Shadow Local Government Minister, Sam Rowlands MS said in response to the news, “This vital project will bring much needed economic growth to Swansea, but it sounds to me that their Labour-run council needs to get a … [Read more...]
Signs removal will lead to more speeding fines
Speeding convictions and fines will rise this autumn in Wales after the new default 20mph limit is introduced and Welsh Government ordered the removal of warning repeater signs and funded more camera vans. Existing 20mph repeater signs put up since 2016 and soon-to-be illegal 30mph repeater signs will be taken down, offered to English authorities or recycled as scrap. Wales is the first part of … [Read more...]
Wales not seeing the ev light despite ‘green’ claims
The Welsh Government has failed to see the light and support the move to electric vehicles, according to Conservative opposition. The Welsh Conservatives have discovered that there is just one lamppost charging point in the entirety of Wales, three years after the issue was raised. This was confirmed by the Labour Deputy Minister for Transport in a written question response to the Welsh … [Read more...]
Tradelines 4 January
Mercedes-Benz is recalling over 123,600 models made between 2001 and 2011 to check and secure potentially faulty sunroofs sold in the USA. Nearly 80 mid-range models are included over the ten year period and any UK owners who have experienced sunroof issues should contact their local dealer for possible rectification free of charge. Germany's Rheinmetall has won an order worth more than a … [Read more...]
Welsh Tories step up attack on Labour roads’ policies
Welsh Conservatives have reiterated their opposition to 20mph becoming the standard speed limit in Wales following news that Labour-run Monmouthshire County Council will scrap the limits on two roads following congestion concerns. Commenting on the news, the Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS said, “What we are seeing here is the beginning of, what I suspect … [Read more...]