Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales has criticised Welsh Government for not doing enough to help restore a road closed by Storm Christoph 12 months ago.
Labour’s Welsh Government have told Wrexham County Borough Council it is their responsibility to fix the problem on the B5605 between Cefn Mawr and Newbridge.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government, said he was appalled at the comment and accused the Welsh Government of shirking their responsibility.
Speaking in the Welsh Parliament Mr Rowlands, said:
The closure of this road for more than a year now has had a huge impact on local people, who now have to take longer journeys. This is a significant issue for them, adding 15 miles and up to 30 minutes to their journey, while of course also adding to their carbon footprint.
I did write to the Minister on 23 November regarding the damage to the B5605 between Cefn Mawr and Newbridge, caused by storm Christoph. I wrote again last week but I've yet to receive a response to any letter. The repair works to the road are expected to cost around £1 million, and 12 months after the storm, the only progress that appears to be made is that Welsh Government approved money to carry out a preliminary assessment.
South Wales based, Labour Welsh Government Minister Lee Waters labelled questions about the closure as “playing politics” and said it was the responsibility of the local authorities.
Mr Rowlands added:
I am quite frankly amazed that the Welsh Government is still not taking this issue seriously and expecting Wrexham council to foot the bill for something on this scale. My colleague in Westminster, Simon Baynes, MP for Clwyd South has also raised this matter in Parliament.
Last week Cefn Mawr’s Labour councillor said they would need help to repair the damage to the road and said they had done all they could to get things moving.
People living in this area and affected by this road closure deserve better. We all know that Labour’s Cardiff-based Welsh Government ignore North Wales, but you know it’s bad when they can’t even agree with their local councillors.
B5606 - Dydd Mercher 27 Ionawr 2022
Mae Sam Rowlands, AS Gogledd Cymru, wedi beirniadu Llywodraeth Cymru am beidio â gwneud digon i helpu i drwsio ffordd a gaewyd gan Storm Christoph 12 mis yn ôl.
Mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi dweud wrth Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam mai eu cyfrifoldeb nhw yw datrys y broblem ar y B5605 rhwng Cefn Mawr a Chefnbychan.
Dywedodd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog yr Wrthblaid dros Lywodraeth Leol, ei fod wedi ei synnu’n fawr gan sylw a chyhuddodd Llywodraeth Cymru o osgoi gwneud ei gwaith.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, dywedodd Mr Rowlands:
Mae cau'r ffordd hon ers dros flwyddyn bellach wedi cael effaith enfawr ar bobl leol, sydd bellach yn gorfod cymryd teithiau hirach. Mae hwn yn fater arwyddocaol iddynt, gan ychwanegu 15 milltir a hyd at 30 munud at eu taith, yn ogystal ag ychwanegu at eu hôl troed carbon wrth gwrs.
Ysgrifennais at y Gweinidog ar 23 Tachwedd ynghylch y difrod i'r B5605 rhwng Cefn Mawr a Chefnbychan, a achoswyd gan storm Christoph. Ysgrifennais eto'r wythnos diwethaf ond nid wyf wedi derbyn ymateb i unrhyw lythyr hyd yma. Disgwylir i'r gwaith o drwsio'r ffordd gostio tua £1 miliwn, a 12 mis ar ôl y storm, yr unig gynnydd sydd wedi’i wneud yw bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cymeradwyo arian i gynnal asesiad cychwynnol.
Dywedodd Lee Waters, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru, mai "chware gwleidyddiaeth" oedd cwestiynau am y ffordd ac mai cyfrifoldeb awdurdodau lleol oedd materion o’r fath.
Ychwanegodd Mr Rowlands:
A dweud y gwir, rwy'n rhyfeddu'n fawr nad yw Llywodraeth Cymru yn cymryd y mater hwn o ddifrif o hyd ac yn disgwyl i gyngor Wrecsam dalu'r bil am rywbeth ar y raddfa hon. Mae fy nghyd-Geidwadwr Simon Baynes, Aelod Seneddol De Clwyd, wedi codi'r mater hwn yn San Steffan hefyd.
Yr wythnos ddiwethaf dywedodd cynghorydd Llafur Cefn Mawr y byddai angen help arnyn nhw i drwsio'r difrod i'r ffordd a dywedodd eu bod wedi gwneud popeth o fewn eu gallu i ddechrau symud pethau.
Mae pobl sy'n byw yn yr ardal hon ac wedi'u heffeithio gan y ffordd sydd ar gau yn haeddu gwell. Rydyn ni gyd yn gwybod bod Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru yng Nghaerdydd yn anwybyddu’r Gogledd, ond rydych chi'n gwybod bod pethau'n ddrwg pan nad ydyn nhw hyd yn oed yn gallu cytuno â'u cynghorwyr lleol eu hunain.
