(Title Image: via Youtube)
At this afternoon’s First Minister’s Question, Luke Fletcher MS (Plaid, South Wales West) pressed Mark Drakeford for a timescale on improvements to deal with congestion and road safety problems caused by the Pencoed level crossing.
The recently-elected Member of the Senedd was pleased the scheme was moving forward – the possible options being reported last week on Oggy Bloggy Ogwr. However, while he appreciated that complex projects take time there’ve been murmurs of a replacement going back to when he sat his GCSEs. He thought constituents would be grateful if a proper timescale for the work could be set out.
Although the First Minister didn’t provide that timescale, he confirmed that the Welsh Government has made £500,000 available to complete the final detailed designs and costings.
The First Minister was familiar with issues at the level crossing and he was in no doubt that closing the level crossing and replacing the Penprysg Road bridge would improve journey times and safety.
Ultimately, rail infrastructure is non-devolved/the responsibility of the UK Government and Network Rail would have to take the lead. That said, the fact Network Rail was at the table was “encouraging”.
