The Welsh Government has secured £4.6 million in transport grants for North Wales, a move that will see improved sustainable travel options between a city centre and a suburb where traffic has been a major issue. This funding is part of a wider £30 million investment by the Welsh Government to enhance transport across the region, aiming to facilitate easier commutes and bolster local economies through better connectivity.

Benefits for Bangor and Active Travel

The funding will have a significant impact on Bangor, with the city receiving £1.4 million alongside Active Travel core funding of £500,000. This project receives backing from both the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales.

• Improved connectivity between Bangor and the surrounding suburbs
• Enhanced sustainable travel options
• Increased investment in Active Travel infrastructure
• Reduced traffic congestion in the area

Councillor Craig ab Iago’s Response

Councillor Craig ab Iago, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Environment, has welcomed the financial injection, stating: “It’s good news that Cyngor Gwynedd has secured over £4.6 million of transport grants from Welsh Government coffers.”

Broader Objectives of the Funding

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates, highlighted the broader objectives of the funding: “Connecting communities and delivering better transport for all is at the heart of this £30 million investment. We want to make it easier for people to travel to work, school, healthcare and to see friends and family, while also building a more sustainable transport network for future generations.”

Comment from North Wales Live Readers

Some North Wales Live readers feel the money could be better spent elsewhere, citing issues with Active Travel routes and the need for improved public transport. One commenter, Tina Black, pointed out that Ken Skates had previously stated that the Active Travel Routes were not working as intended and that the money would be better spent on improving public transport.

• Tina Black: “Ken Skates said very recently that the Active Travel Routes were not working as was thought and that the money would be better spent on improving public transport. Yet the Welsh Government is still pumping money into Active Travel.”
• Nick Pritchard: “Marvellous and meanwhile our High Street disappears! Waste of money like the £30m medical centre. What is going on in Cyngor Gwynedd?”
• Gareth Homer: “Most cycle paths don’t get used at all. I cycled for years and only passed my driving test 7 months ago, most cyclists don’t use the paths, instead they are on the road slowing down traffic right next to the cycle paths!”
• Kev Beaumont: “Cyclists still ride on the road next to cycle paths especially that one on Penrhos, imagine if car drivers drove on cycle lanes next to the road, we would be fined. It should be the same for cyclists if they misuse the road when there’s a cycle path next to it.”
• Yiva Wolfie Henderson: “I honestly believe they should be spending money on a new hospital for North Wales rather than cycle paths and so on. Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor covers a massive area. We are not offered appointments in other hospitals. With the influx of tourists Ysbyty Gwynedd is on its knees with covering the Llyn, Anglesey etc. Critically ill patients can’t wait to be driven to Wrecsam because the hospital is full. The hospital is physically too small to serve the vast area.”
• Arthur Pugh Roberts: “What about the bypass for Llanbedr? The money awarded for the bypass should never have been returned. Gwynedd County Council should be ashamed of themselves.”
• Karlito McZic: “Anything for Llanbedr? There is no safe walking or cycling in Llanbedr. None.”
• Martin John Woodcock: “Meanwhile, the potholes grow larger.”

Key Takeaways

• Improved sustainable travel options between Bangor and the surrounding suburbs
• Increased investment in Active Travel infrastructure
• Reduced traffic congestion in the area
• Enhanced connectivity between communities
• Building a more sustainable transport network for future generations

Conclusion

The Welsh Government’s £4.6 million investment in transport grants will have a positive impact on North Wales, providing improved sustainable travel options between a city centre and a suburb where traffic has been a major issue. While some readers have expressed concerns about the allocation of funds, it is clear that the Welsh Government is committed to enhancing transport across the region, aiming to facilitate easier commutes and bolster local economies through better connectivity.