The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) is ignored by Ken Skates to provide Trawscymru services through South Clwyd

Subect: The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) is ignored by Ken Skates to provide Trawscymru services through South Clwyd

Date:  2018-07-31 10:24

From:  L MCTIGHE <john.mct@>

To:      Jayne.Bryant@, Dafydd.Elis-Thomas@ AndrewRT.Davies@, Mick.Antoniw@, Vaughan.Gething@, Paul.Davies@, Mohammad.Asghar@, Dawn.Bowden@, Janet.Finch-Saunders@, Suzy.Davies@, Russell.George@, Alun.Davies@, Lesley.Griffiths@, Hefin.David@, Mark.Drakeford@, Gareth.Bennett@, Michelle.Brown@, Rebecca.Evans@, Rhun.apIorwerth@, John.Griffiths@, Hannah.Blythyn@, Angela.Burns@

Reply-To  john.mct@

Copies  Welsh MPs, Welsh Assembly members, Aberystwyth Council , Ceredigion Council, Gwynedd Council , Powys Council, Carmarthenshire Council.

Dear Reader,

The Trawscymru network has 3 new routes which are about to be introduced in September 2018 without an open evaluation having been carried out on these routes.   Tho routes are the T10 Bangor to the non strategic locations of Chirk and Oswestry via the AM constituency of South Clwyd  and the T11/T12 Wrexham to the non strategic location of Machynleth via the AM constituency of South Clwyd  . The “high-level” review of an Aberystwyth to Wrexham route commissioned by Ken Skates on 14/11/2017 has been ignored.

I have just found an interesting  Welsh Assembly Government  document (see link below) on the subject of “”The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG)”” which was  introduced by Ken Skates in 2017.   The document indicates that “”The WelTAG process must be applied to all transport projects funded in part or in full by the Welsh Government”” .  Therefore WelTAG evaluation reports of the 3 new Trawscymru routes ,which involve major changes to the Trawscymru network, should  have been produced.

https://beta.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2017-12/welsh-transport-appraisal-guidance.pdf

The following points are taken from that document

“”The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) is a framework for thinking about proposed changes to the transport system.  It contains best practice for the development, appraisal and evaluation of proposed transport interventions in Wales. WelTAG ensures a clear audit trail of decision-making, providing the justification for the promotion, or otherwise, of transport options.   WelTAG is designed to be used by people who have local knowledge of the particular issues that have prompted the desire to consider improving the transport system.   These may be central or local government officers, politicians, local community groups or members of the general public.  The WelTAG process must be applied to all transport projects funded in part or in full by the Welsh Government.   Well documented and robust evidence should underlie the whole of the WelTAG  process.   A WelTAG appraisal should set out the whole range of foreseeable impacts of each of the proposed solutions. Collaboration and involvement are important throughout a WelTAG appraisal. During the more detailed design and assessment of shortlisted options, engagement with the public and other stakeholders will assist in gathering evidence   The WelTAG process is designed to share understanding between those involved in making the decisions and those affected by those decisions.   This underlies the importance of stakeholder involvement and public engagement   WelTAG is a process that leads to the development of better solutions..   Over time, completed WelTAG reports and their supporting data will become an invaluable resource for learning about what does and doesn’t work in particular situations. “”

Since February 2018 I have been attempting to get an evaluation document from the Welsh Assembly Government  for the new Trawscymru routes being introduced in September 2018 but have been met by a wall of silence on the grounds that my questions are “”vexatious””.   The Welsh Assembly Government  have ignored the Winckler review,  ignored the Welsh Assembly Government  Transport Strategy and are ignoring WelTAG.   Why bother having Welsh Assembly Government  Transport  policies and procedures at all if the policies and procedures are ignored ?

If anyone else is interested in the rationale behind the T10, T11, T12 Trawscymru routes and why a review of the Aberystwyth to Wrexham route has not been carried out (recommended by the Winckler review and finally commissioned as a “”high-level”” review by Ken Skates on 14/11/2017) then they should ask Ken Skates to provide the WelTAG evaluation documents for all these routes. .

Yours Sincerely ,

Dr John McTighe