“Carmarthenshire railways need HS2 money” say Plaid Cymru politicians

The estimated cost of the HS2 line from London to Birmingham has spiralled to as much as £66bn. With Wales being denied as much as £4bn of consequential funding due to the designation of HS2 as an ‘England and Wales’ project, Plaid Cymru politicians have called on the Labour Welsh Government to reconsider its decision not to pursue a HS2 legal challenge.

In a recent written answer to Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, Labour’s Counsel General confirmed the Welsh Government had decided not to pursue a legal challenge, a decision Mr ap Iorwerth said was tantamount to “waving the white flag”.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“We know that the UK Conservative Government want to put a stranglehold on Wales’ finances and have been intent on keeping Wales in the slow lane by not redesignating HS2 an England only project.

“But we would have expected better from Labour, a party that purports to be ‘standing up for Wales’.

“Despite Labour Ministers claiming that that they are on the same side as Plaid Cymru on the unfairness of the lack of HS2 consequentials, it now seems that they are no more than weasel words when we see their ambivalence towards pursuing the matter.”

Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, Adam Price MS added:

“Carmarthenshire’s railways are in desperate need of investment. I have lost count at how many constituents have contacted my office regarding a poor or unreliable rail service in the county. The money owed to Wales would certainly be enough to transform our railway system, across not just Carmarthenshire but Wales as a whole.”

Cllr Ann Davies, Plaid Cymru candidate for Caerfyrddin at the next General Election said:

“It seems like Plaid Cymru is the only party that is willing to stand up to Westminster on this issue. Carmarthenshire’s railway need this investment; the fact that a town like St Clears does not have its own train station is farcical. We will continue to fight for the money that Wales is owed.”