Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has hit out at the Welsh Government for putting “on hold” essential roadworks on a dangerous stretch of road in Denbighshire.  

Darren has been warning of the dangers of the Maes Gamedd bends in Gwyddelwern for over a decade and repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to upgrade the road.

Ministers have made recurring assurances that improvements would be delivered, but they haven’t been forthcoming.

Frustrated by the repeated delays, Darren, who has been working with Gwyddelwern Community Council and the Denbighshire County Councillor for the ward Cllr Hugh Evans for many years to try to move the project forward, recently submitted a Written Parliamentary Question calling for an update.

Last week he received a response which revealed that the scheme “is currently on hold”.

Commenting, Darren said:

“The Minister’s response that the scheme is currently on hold whilst it is being reviewed by the Roads Review Panel is incredibly frustrating and will come as a great disappointment to residents who have been desperate to see improvements along this stretch for many years.

“We were originally told that the scheme would be undertaken by the end of March 2021, but then the works were kicked further down the road with a new date of September set for completion.

“This date came and went with no sign of works starting and now we are in May 2022 and have been told the scheme is on hold. This frankly isn’t good enough.

“This is a hazardous stretch which we have been warning those in power in Cardiff about for over a decade.

“As I have said before, if it were in South Wales I’m confident that the improvements would have been carried out years ago.

“It is appalling that the concerns of local residents and politicians has been totally disregarded in this way and I will continue pursuing this until we achieve the outcome that is so desperately needed.”

Cllr Hugh Evans said:

“Despite our repeated warnings that someone will be seriously injured or killed unless improvements are made, following delay after delay, the Welsh Government have now decided these improvements are not important and have put them on hold. This is a real smack in the face to all the residents who have expressed their deep concerns over the years and had been hopeful that they would see the works carried out soon.

“Along with Darren, I will continue pushing for improvement on this stretch, we cannot afford not to.”