Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has condemned Labour Welsh Government plans to introduced charges on vital transport corridors across North Wales.

The Welsh Government is considering consolidating existing legislation that allows traffic authorities to place tolls on the roads they manage.  They argue that tolls might encourage motorists to take alternative routes or use public transport, decreasing localised air pollution. However, the consultation document notes that Welsh air quality is the best it has been since the industrial revolution. 

Many of the roads earmarked for the charges, including the A55, A494 and A5, are vital transport corridors across North Wales, with alternative routes not always being readily available. 

Criticising the proposals, Darren said:

“North Wales needs road tolls like a hole in the head. 

“Being able to get around on the A55, A494, A5 and other trunk roads for work, shopping, the school run and other purposes is an essential part of daily life for my constituents so these plans would be devastating. 

“A driving tax would also seriously undermine the North Wales tourism industry which is already on its knees due to the pandemic.”

He added:

“Welsh Labour has been in power for over 20 years and in that time they’ve not done enough to improve public transport in North Wales. Now they want to punish people for using the roads. 

“It’s another policy dreamt up by someone in Cardiff Bay that doesn’t know what it’s actually like to get about in North Wales.

“Wales needs a Government with a plan to help us bounce back from the pandemic, create new jobs, improve schools, and cut NHS waiting lists. Punishing locals and visitors with a driving tax would make it more expensive to get on with life and damage jobs and businesses.”

Register your opposition to the Welsh Labour-led Government’s new tax on drivers by clicking here: https://action.conservatives.wales/scrap-the-drivers-tax/