The views of Sustainable Transport Cymru, as expounded by former ITV Wales political correspondent and Guardian commentator Lee Waters today, were hardly a surprise – especially as it seems that they already had an inkling of what was in the WAG transport proposals.
“We're fed up of strategies promising greener transport when half the transport budget is tied up in road schemes”, stated Waters – a comment which proved remarkably apposite in the light of what subsequently happened.
But is this a cause for celebration? Wales already has a lamentable record of infrastructure investment compared to other European recipients of Objective One aid and it now also seems to have a government that appears unduly influenced by alliances comprised of pressure groups who cannot otherwise muster political support through the ballot box or those which exist to promote the interests of the private(ised) passenger transport sector.
If anyone should be fed up after today’s announcement of two major road schemes getting binned it is those who have dutifully turned up to the Assembly’s economic recovery roadshows and thought that were making a contribution. Among these will be the CBI’s David Rosser who is already raising understandable concerns not just about this specific decision but how a devolved government – let alone an independent one - can fund any sort of meaningful infrastructure improvements with such patent limitations placed on public funds and political ambition.
Update (16 July): Reaction
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