Friday 18 July 2014

Was Edwina's decision just to spite Plaid?


In all honesty I don't know which is the best option for the new Newport Relief Road despite  the excellent guidance from Owen at Oggy Bloody Ogwr

But the cost  cost an estimated £1billion  seems like the Assembly Government intends to spend all its pocket money in one shop and how likely is this 11 mile stretch going to come in on budget?

Certainly those in the rest of Wales are going to have to wait years for any money available to improve their infrastructure

However  even  Economy Minister Edwina Hart is making the right 
decision it is surly wrong that she  Assembly Members she had rubber-stamped the controversial “black route” option for the stretch between Magor and Castleton, it seems wrong that she made before  Next week's cross-party environment committee report  that raises "grave concerns"  was due to be published.

Indeed what this has shown is that in a Unicameral chamber like the assembly there is problem when it comes to scrutiny of Government.

Now I don't believe that we need at the moment or indeed in the enforceable future a second chamber but greater powers  should be given to committees making he relevant Minister accountable to them and they must be able to question ministers who must give clear reasons for their decisions.

The worrying thing about Edwin hart's decision is that she made it because Plaid Cymru had openly supported the Blue Route option and has made the wrong decision to prevent Plaid claiming victory.

If this is the case she has committed Wales to an expense that it can not afford out of political spite.








1 comment:

Owen said...

Thanks for the link, Glyn.

I wouldn't be surprised if this comes in under-budget in the end. I can't believe that this will cost £1billion.

As a minister Edwina Hart isn't bound to any committee recommendations though it would've been sensible to have waited until a good few weeks after the publication of the report before making a decision - perhaps up to and including a recall of the Assembly for one day during the recess to debate the issue properly.