Thursday, October 29, 2015

At long last - a Newtown By-pass.



Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, has paid tribute to the key modern day politicians who have delivered on promises to build a Newtown Bypass. He was commenting after today’s announcement by the Welsh Government that approval has been given for the project to go ahead, with construction likely to begin before Christmas.
Many individuals have been involved in bringing this huge project to the construction phase, but Glyn Davies has paid tribute to three individual politicians who have made key contributions.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Glyn Davies MP, who has been involved in discussions about a Newtown Bypass since being elected as Montgomeryshire Planning Committee Chair in 1982, said;

"Today's announcement of the go-ahead for a Newtown Bypass is very good news for mid Wales. It is important for Newtown itself, but also for the whole of mid Wales to the West of Newtown. It's been a long slog reaching today's decision. I was first involved 33 years ago when elected Chair of Montgomeryshire's Planning Committee. Newtown was being doubled in size, and a bypass was thought crucial to the success of this great physical and social change."

“There have been many people involved in delivering today's result. In the early days, the late Peter Garbett-Edwards was a leading dynamic driving force, along with others. He would enjoy my remembering his key role today."

" I want to pay tribute to three modern day individuals who have also played key roles. Firstly, it was former Assembly Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones who made a firm commitment to deliver the Bypass by 2017 in a formal meeting with me in March 2011. That was the key commitment."

“Secondly, it has been Assembly Minister Edwina Hart who has driven the project over recent years, delivering on the promises made by her predecessor. Edwina has been a great champion of Montgomeryshire, delivering our renal dialysis unit, the Newtown Bypass, real movement on a new Dyfi Bridge and last week promising to scrap Welshpool's ridiculous one-way system. She has stood out as an Assembly Minister who has been a great friend of Montgomeryshire."

“And thirdly, I pay tribute to our own current Assembly Member, Russell George, who has shown great tenacity in ensuring that the Welsh Government's promises have been delivered on. He will continue to pressurise the Welsh Government to ensure there is no slippage in completing the scheme."

“It's been a very long time coming - but now it is coming. I hope to be driving on the new bypass in late 2017. It's wonderful news for Montgomeryshire - for Newtown, mid Wales to the West of Newtown, and our economic future. It's a day to celebrate.”

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