- 17/11/2014
- Posted by: Joyce Watson MS
- Category: Feature
Joyce Watson AM has welcomed the announcement that the Welsh Government is urgently considering improvements to the A40, with an assessment being completed within the next six months.
The prospect of adding more carriageways to the A40 is being explored by a taskforce set up by the transport minister, Edwina Hart. This is the latest positive development in a long, on-going campaign to improve the A40 in Pembrokeshire.
The Labour Mid and West AM, who has long been an advocate of dualling the A40, spoke during the Senedd discussion after the minister’s announcement (12 November). She said:
“I welcome the commitment to accelerate the upgrading of the A40. I will declare an interest, as I drive on it at least four times a week.”
Mrs Watson spoke of her commitment to the campaign, saying she has “lobbied for upgrades and dualling on the A40” for a long time.
The announcement that the work to explore improvements to the road was being fast-tracked was made by Edwina Hart, who said:
“I have also asked my officials to conduct further urgent work to explore additional ways to improve the A40, including the potential for dualling. This work will be complete within six months.”
Speaking after the minister’s announcement, Joyce added:
“Dualling the A40 would create construction jobs in the short-term and help attract inward investment to the county in the long-term. It’s also an opportunity to look again at road safety in places like Llanddewi Velfrey.
Mrs Watson, a former Pembrokeshire County Councillor, has previously met with campaigners interested in improving the stretch of road at Llanddewi Velfrey. Following a meeting with residents, Mrs Watson said: “It is a very busy stretch and there is a lot of heavy goods traffic”, pointing out that the path on the side of the road “is barely wide enough to walk single file” and could be considered unsafe.
Mrs Watson has led Senedd debates on road safety and had a motion to encourage Welsh local authorities to implement more 20mph speed limits passed by Assembly Members.
