Plaid Cymru AM Dai Lloyd yesterday asked an urgent question on the electrification of the South Wales Mainline in the Assembly chamber. The Plaid AM whose region includes Swansea, described yesterday’s announcement by the UK government as a huge blow for Swansea and the south West of Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s Dai Lloyd AM said:
“The Tory Lib Dem government’s decision not to electrify the line to Swansea is a huge blow, not just for the city of Swansea but for south west Wales as a whole. The UK government have sent a message that Swansea is beyond the end of the line. Their decision gives the impression that we are an economic backwater.
“Recent statistics have shown the difficult economic conditions facing the west of Wales and highlighted the need for investment in order to stimulate our economy. Electrification of the mainline to Swansea would have been exactly the kind of boost to our economy, and our confidence, that was needed. It was a chance for the UK government to do something for this area from which we would have reaped huge benefits, in terms of jobs and investment. Instead the Tory lib dem government has made the decision not to give this boost to what are some of Wales’ poorest areas. The people of Swansea and of south west Wales as a whole have been very badly let down by the Tories and the Lib Dems.
“But I know that the people of Swansea will not take this decision lying down. The campaign to bring electrification to Swansea goes on and my commitment to that campaign is steadfast.”
