- 22/05/2023
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Categories: Assembly Questions, News
MIKE HEDGES MS ASKS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ON SWANSEA BAY AND WEST WALES METRO.
Speaking after Business Questions, local Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said…. ‘I welcome the Ministers reply but remain concerned that progress is Swansea and West Wales remains which seems behind the other regions mentioned. People in Swansea await the Swansea Bay Metro as the area needs a better interconnected transport system; I have previously raised with Ministers issues to do with reopening old stations such as Landore, close to the Swansea.com station and I have also highlighted issues such as Llansamlet Railway station where busses end their journey about 700 yards from the Railway station and people have to walk the last bit of the journey to the Railway station.
It is time to proceed as quickly as possible with the Swansea Bay metro scheme so that people can enjoy an integrated transport network.’
I’m also requesting an update on the Swansea bay and west Wales metro. I’m aware that studies with Welsh Government and local authorities are taking place, to develop plans to provide better connectivity within south-west Wales, and the potential of a faster service between west and south Wales. Can the Government provide a progress report on this project? I speak as somebody who comes from Swansea; we seem to hear an awful lot about the north Wales metro, an awful lot about the south Wales metro, based upon Cardiff, but there seems to be almost complete silence on the Swansea and west Wales metro.94
In relation to your second point, on the west Wales metro, our regional transport support will change the way that we travel. The Deputy Minister is obviously working to create a very modern, sustainable rail, bus, cycling and walking network to create a range of different parts of the transport network. And I know that that is going to be playing a critical role as we move forward with our regional metro—as you mentioned, obviously, the north Wales metro and the south Wales metro. And obviously, each region has very different needs, dependent on their rurality and geography.
