"Raw deal" for county's roads

2:36pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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Pembrokeshire's road network is in danger of resembling that of a third world country unless the Welsh Assembly wakes up to the county's transport problems.

That was the stark message from senior Pembrokeshire county council cabinet members following a "paltry" Assembly transport cash handout last week.

Pembrokeshire got £797,000 from the pot of £117million.

Neighbouring Carmarthen-shire picked up £2.4m while Ceredigion pocketed a staggering £10.2m.

Council cabinet members could not contain their anger after the announcement was made.

"Yet again, Pembrokeshire's been given a raw deal," said Cllr Jamie Adams.

"It's a paltry sum, especially when you compare it with the £10m plus received by Ceredigion - a smaller, more rural and certainly less industrialised area than Pembrokeshire."

Cllr Adams, cabinet member for highways and transport, said he thought a great injustice had been dealt to the people of Pembrokeshire.

"This county is in danger of becoming the equivalent of a third world country as far as its road network is concerned unless the Assembly wakes up and recognises our needs," he added.

Cllr Adams said a lot of time and hard work had gone into compiling the transport grant bid but, he added: "It seems to have been almost a complete waste of resources."

Council leader John Davies was also furious with the settlement.

He said: "When you see announcements like this, it makes you wonder if the decisions that are being made in Cardiff are being based on sound, professional research or biased political reasons."

Cllr Davies said the council has now asked the Assembly to explain why the settlement was so low.