Welsh Assembly unveils Newtown bypass plans

Wednesday 13th October 2010, 12:00AM BST.

Welsh Assembly unveils Newtown bypass plans

Long-awaited plans for a bypass which will transform a Mid Wales town – and be of “vital importance” to the whole of Wales – were today unveiled by the Welsh Assembly.

The preferred route for Newtown’s bypass, for which residents have been fighting for more than 20 years, has today finally been announced by Ieuan Wyn Jones, deputy first minister and minister for economy and transport.

The route chosen was the “orange route” – which will see the bypass pass the south of the town past the Mochdre Industrial Estate and passing under the main Cambrian railway line east of the Dyffryn Industrial Estate.

For the full story see today’s Shropshire Star


  1. 1
    Andy

    Glad to see the Welsh wasting our money as if there wasnt an economic crisis in progress.

    Cut them loose and let them waste their own money, no more subsidies from England!

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    • welshlad

      you need to read up on it more mate,the welsh assembly are paying for the by pass…Also maybe people in England should stop clogging the road in newtown up,there causing most of the traffic..

      Report abuse

  2. 2
    adam

    FAIR PLAY THIS WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY AND HELP THEM TO GENERATE MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY

    READ SOME ECONOMICS BOOKS ANDY!!

    Report abuse

  3. 3
    Andy

    Really Adam?

    I happen to know quite a bit about economics, how about you?

    Perhaps with your wisdom you can explain how a road generates money? Wales does not suffer from a lack of infrastructure, it suffers from a lack of ambition and ability. Building roads will not do anything for them. When companies do set up in Wales they invariably fail unless they are recipients of vast handouts, (of English money).

    The Welsh can be cut loose as far as I, or the majority of English, are concerned.

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    • Wyn Jones

      the standard department for transport methodology is called a Cost-Benefit Analysis and is a mandatory part of submitting a business case for any publically funded road project. Generally economic benefits are quantified in terms of pounds saved from 3 main areas: –

      a)reduced accidents and death (which can be quantified in terms of hospital, burial costs and lost earnings etc)

      b)reduced journey times (which can be quantified in terms of wages etc time is money!) ; and ;

      c) Vehicle costs – namely fuel of cost which is simply to quantify in terms of mpg. aslo maintenence etc, wear and tear on the engine, tyres, etc. This is a fairly stardard UK rate of 40 p per mile as the full cost of motoring

      Look on the Dept of Transport website, or as suggested read some economics books if you would like to learn more about this

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  4. 4
    a

    excellent news this will shave 20 mins off journey times

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  5. 5
    Colin U.

    Really Andy !
    it seems that you are completely unaware of the problems that Newtown has with traffic congestion. It lies on the A483, the main route to Mid Wales and is one of the busiest main roads in Wales.
    The town is brought virtually to a stand still for a few hours each day by the immense congestion at several sets of traffic lights.
    On bank holidays and normal summer weekends queues as long as 5 miles at each end of the town wait to drive through to get to their destination.
    The proposed bypass should have been built back in the early 90s, but never materialised.
    Just like the Shrewsbury north-west bypass which would eliminate 90% of the congestion between Ellesmere Road/Ditherington Road and Shelton.

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    • Jeepers

      Colin mentions the especially heavy traffic that passes through Newtown in holiday seasons.

      As something who has professed himself to know a lot about economics, Andy will of course be aware that these very motorists are vital to the Welsh economy; they holiday in Wales and/or spend their money in Wales and much of the profit is returned in taxes and other duties….to the Treasury and thus to the overall UK economy. I believe this even happens in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Just fancy!

      Presumably our bigoted amateur economist has no problem with *that* though??

      Report abuse

  6. 6
    Jeepers

    Newtown needs a bypass, there is no doubt at all about that. I’d rather see more detail as to scheduled start dates etc though.

    I would imagine money is going to be a major issue.

    Incidentally, I do love the way people like Andy speak for “the majority” in delivering their pronouncements on the Welsh. His two posts tells us more about the sort of person he is – and the size of the chip on his shoulder for some reason – that anything else we’re ever likely to read.

    Obviously one or two ‘issues’ you need to deal with Andy ?

    ;)

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    • Colin U.

      Well said Jeppers,
      I had thought about the start date but thought I had rambled on long enough.

      As for Andy your comment is well warranted :)

      He obviously thinks that waiting for 15 minutes to cross the A483 is acceptable for the residents of Newtown.
      How would people react if the A5 still took the old route along Roman Road.

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      • Andy

        I have no problem with the residents of Newtown getting a bypass…. as long as they pay for it themselves!

        The Welsh are wasting money instead of ensuring front line services, then when the coffers are bare the English have to pick up the tab, and if you think that I am wrong then I suggest it is you who read not only some economics literature, but research the spend vs tax of Wales. Free prescritpions, but they cant run an ambulance service, free uni education, but they cant afford primary schools, the list is endless…

        And being called a bigot by a Welshman is laughable.

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        • Jeepers

          Andy, I had no doubt at all that you would probably fall back on the “You’re a Welshman” defence. But I’m not. I did however live in Newtown many years ago, although not now.

          Give it up mate. Every post you make shows you up; you have a huge chip on your shoulder and makes any further comment from me totally superfluous.

          Report abuse

        • welshlad

          ANDY why dont you go worry about your own country?? Newtown having a by pass has nothing in the slightest to do with you!!

          Report abuse

  7. 7
    adam bebb

    orange route what a joke!

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  8. 8
    oswestrian

    So the Welsh are merrily bypassing their towns to enable the free flow of traffic – including heavy goods vehicles.

    Then when they hit Shropshire at llanymynech and Pant it will all slow down again as our politicians spend millions on fesibility schemes and options – and then sit on their hands.

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    • Jeepers

      I think there is a lot of truth in what Oswestrian says – Newtown isn’t the only bottleneck on this corridor!

      I suspect part of the Newtown Bypass announcement is down to politics; Newtown is the most populated town in North Powys (possibly the most populated in Powys as a whole?) and therefore a lot of voters live there.

      With Welsh Assembly elections coming up next year, the current coalition parties in Wales (Labour/Plaid) will be thinking very much of those elections. The trouble is, tomorrow never comes, does it? The Newtown Bypass idea has been on the cards on and off for years. There is STILL no exact date, and I suspect 2014 will come and go and it’ll be put back again.

      Report abuse

  9. 9
    Welshlad

    ANDY its you English people who are causing the traffic!!

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  10. 10
    dave

    What we must also remember here the majority of vehicles using this route are in fact from the west midlands on a main holiday route to the coast ( myself Included )to and from home to our static caravan in Powys.and as for Andys comments regarding roads not making money he should take a look in Newtown on a Friday afternoon and ask his self where these people in the queues are going and how much they are putting In to the local economy

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    Wyn Jones

    halilujah!

    Report abuse

    • Andy

      Nice to see the usual welsh bigotry in motion.

      No response to your education and health problems I see, just personal attacks against an Englishman, as usual…

      In closing:

      Yakki da!

      Report abuse

  12. 12
    Ian, Worcester

    an excellent and timely boost to the economy, if you can get the journey time from Birmingham to the welsh coast down to below the magic 2 hr mark you will see day trippers not just weekenders which will open up a whole new multi million pound tourism angle.

    There are still a few more issues to iron out on the way to Aberyswth. I also support train too, so electrication, expanded services all that too, but a better road link from Birmingham to Aber and Birmingham to Machynleth with will great news for Wales and Shropshire too!

    I appreciate mid wales is beautiful party because its undeveloped and I am very much into green issues and country life BUT its poor mainly because its got poor transport links. We need more road building badly!

    It would help to dual the A5 from Shrewsbury to Oswestry too!!!

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Ali Fatwa

    this will save lives, road safety is a big priority

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  14. 14
    chris owen

    thank god wales has a labour goverment.

    the tories have stopped road building in england as shrewsbury suffers with traffic we all know!! this is so important for the economy, i wish we had a labour govt for the uk who would build roads and invest in proper public services not like the tory slashers

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  15. 15
    evans the train

    Well Andy, if you could come and stand on your soapbox at the cross in Newtown and spout your antisemitism against the Welsh, we just might find a few good people to listen but they will be suitably attired so they will not to get covered in the verbal diarrhoea that is coming from your English mouth and this is being polite!
    I personally have nothing against the English as I am married to one.

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