(Title Image: Welsh Government)
Petitions Committee
Petition P-05-886: “Stop the Red Route (A55/A494 corridor)” (pdf)
Submitted by: Linda Scott
Signatures: 1,409
Published: 2nd March 2021
The “Red Route” is a proposed £300million dual carriageway which would link the Flintshire Bridge with the A55 near Northop, which would effectively result in a bypass of Ewloe and Aston Hill by providing an alternative route in and out of the north-east.
If the scheme is given final approval, construction isn’t expected to start until 2024.
The petitioners argue that the proposed route crosses ancient woodland, doesn’t take into account the steep gradients involved (which may lead to delays if faster road traffic is stuck behind slow moving traffic due to the lack of a crawler lane up Halkyn Hill) and contradicts commitments on climate change and the Future Generations Act.
Economy & Transport Minister, Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South) said the scheme would need a full public inquiry once the draft orders are published and a full environmental impact statement would also be required. He also dismissed the petitioner’s concerns over the projected cost of the project as the Flintshire Bridge wouldn’t require an upgrade (as the petitioners argued).
The Woodlands Trust argued in favour of a tunnel under the ancient woodland site.
The Minister added that the scheme would play a key part in a proposed bus-based North Wales Metro because it would free up extra road space.
Additionally, it would improve access to and from Deeside Industrial Park, meaning the scheme has support from businesses.
The Committee made several recommendations, namely that detailed planning work for the project should be delayed until we have a clearer picture of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on transport demand, that the costs of the scheme are reassessed and that a full consultation with the public takes place – with particular emphasis on measures to reduce the impact on ancient woodlands.
