Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has hit out at the Welsh Government for once again delaying essential road improvements on the Maes Gamedd bends, despite repeated warnings that they are dangerous.

The bends in Gwyddelwern, Denbighshire, have been in need of an upgrade for well over a decade and are deemed to be hazardous, but in spite of assurances from the Welsh Government that improvements would be delivered, they haven’t been forthcoming.

Darren 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 and finally, in February of last year, they were told that work should be undertaken by the end of March 2021, but after chasing with the Welsh Government’s Transport Minister in March, Darren received a response stating that the works had been kicked further down the road with a new date of September set for completion.

This never happened and Darren has now received a letter from the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS, stating that the works will now not be carried out until Autumn 2022.

The letter states: “Subject to annual funding and prioritisation, we have agreed with our Trunk Road Agent a revised construction start in Autumn 2022, on the understanding and assumption that land procurement is achievable within reasonable timescales.”

Darren said:

“This is absolutely outrageous. This project has been delayed time and time again despite our repeated warnings about how dangerous these bends are.

“The Welsh Government are completely disregarding our concerns and those of residents, which is unacceptable. As I have previously said, if these improvements were needed in south Wales there is no doubt they would have been completed years ago.

“Once again, here in North Wales we are being treated like second class citizens and I will not stand for it. I will be raising the matter once again with the Transport Minister, urging him to review this decision and bring forward the start date.”

Cllr Hugh Evans said:

“To delay this project yet again is appalling, yet not surprising given the Welsh Government’s previous delays.

“Residents will be extremely disappointed and frustrated to hear that this project has now been kicked back until next Autumn and will question how seriously Ministers in Cardiff Bay consider their safety.

“I will continue working with Darren to get this decision overturned.”