Connecting The Nation -New Wales Transport Strategy

One of the major concerns by objectors to the, now discredited, A494 motorway proposals was that before committing hundreds of thousands from public funds on an extravagant and futile Public Inquiry, the planners should wait the publication of a promised comprehensive review of ALL transport policies for Wales.

Well thanks to the lobbying of hundreds of good folk along the A494/A55 roads it's just been published. You can read this important strategy document NOW at:

English Version
Welsh Version

This has implications for many new road building schemes currently in the pipeline including the highly controversial Llandeilo bypass which has been 'in the pipeline' for over 40 years and plans for which were drawn up with total disregard for modern concerns and ideas about the local economy, environmental impact, tourism impact and traffic management. A classic case of political dithering, organisational indolence and lack of imagination resulting in a solution acceptable to no parties but is based solely on 'least cost'.

Finally, maybe the WAG can 'get a grip' on the shambles that is a Welsh transport policy and it appears that it will be mainly thanks to Plaid initiative and 'listening' at last to what people actually want and need. Well here's hoping.

Hat tip: John Butler, John Mayo

GOG WITH A BLOG: Labour hypocrisy over Post Office closures!

GOG WITH A BLOG: Labour hypocrisy over Post Office closures!

Cambria launches new political blog

A new political blog has been launched by Cambria Wales' National Magazine.

The main editor and contributor to this blog is Clive Betts who is based daily in the Cardiff Assembly building in the Bay and so is well placed to report on all the news, rumours and gossip.

Clive has been for many years Wales' foremost political journalist. Previously with the Western Mail and now a freelancer, entering the 'blogosphere' gives him much more flexibility and independence from London based editorial interference.

The people of Wales deserve better scrutiny of Assembly politicians, what they get up to with tax payers money and whose 'snouts are in the trough'. We only have to look at the recent example of how Peter Hain's political career was destroyed by bloggers to understand that the Internet and blogs can make or break the political landscape. The so-called 'Dead Trees Press' like the Western Mail are totally reliant on Assembly advertising revenue to survive and so cannot be trusted to provide impartial or investigative reporting or the intelligent scrutiny that is needed to keep people informed.

Visit CAMBRIA POLITICO

One Wales Commitment (Non)Delivery Schedule

With regard to Y Byd and Welsh Medium print see this commitment:

'Commitment 193- Expand funding and support for Welsh medium magazines and newspapers, including establishment of Welsh language daily newspaper.'

Result Key: PW AD AD ( = preparatory work done and progress dependent on this)

'Minister announced in Plenary on 5 February the Welsh Assembly Government response to Dr Tony Bianchi’s report. A review of the Welsh Language Print Media. The Welsh Books Council will be leading on implementing this commitment.'

For the entire schedule of commitments go here .