July 25, 2022 - 1589 views
A local politician has criticised Welsh Government's plans to introduce new charges which he claims will hike the cost of motoring in Wales.
Clwyd West MS Darren Millar labelled the plans "a war on motorists" and said that local people could be impacted.
The Welsh Government’s National Transport Delivery Plan which sets out the Welsh Government’s transport strategy until 2027 outlines plans to push people from roads on to public transport. The plan, unveiled last week, includes proposals for tolls on trunk roads and congestion charges in Welsh towns and cities.
Speaking on the proposals he said: “The Welsh Government's war on motorists will hit North Wales the hardest.
"It's all very well to incentivise people in urban centres like Cardiff to choose public transport but those options are not available to many people in North Wales where public transport is poor, particularly in rural areas.
"Owning a car in many parts of North Wales is essential and many people in the region have no option other than to drive on a trunk road to get to work, education, medical appointments or the shops so the Welsh Government is now effectively planning to place a tax on all of those things.
"To hit people's pockets in this way at a time when there are already huge pressures on the cost of living is appalling."
Mr. Millar also highlighted what he claimed would be an impact on the region's economy.
“Tourism taxes and road charges will do nothing to help the North Wales visitor economy on which many tens of thousands of livelihoods in the region rely."
