New £56m road 'will boost Newtown economy'
A new £56 million bypass is "urgently needed" to ease traffic congestion in Newtown and will provide a huge boost to the region's economy, a planning inquiry heard.
Montgomeryshire AM Russell George told the inquiry into the town's proposed bypass that the road will also improve safety and help the emergency services.
Mr George said more than 10,000 people signed a petition he organised calling for the road to be built in 2010 and said support is still high in the town.
He told the inquiry at the town's Elephant & Castle Hotel that he is still hoping work will begin on the road by the end of 2015.
He said: "I wish to support the Newtown bypass and the existing preferred scheme. I believe the preferred scheme is the best option for the Newtown bypass and believe this is also the view of the majority of people who live and work in this area of Mid Wales.
"I also understand that the preferred scheme is supported by Powys County Council, county councillors, Newtown Town Council and Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies.
"Five years ago, in my capacity as a Newtown county councillor, I organised a petition calling for a bypass whereby over 10,000 people signed. I presented the petition to the National Assembly for Wales in March 2010.
"I also carried out a general survey in Newtown last year. I included a specific question whether people thought the proposed Newtown bypass would improve traffic congestion.
"The results of this question showed that 86 per cent of respondents believe that the Newtown bypass will improve traffic congestion."
Mr George added: "I believe the bypass will be hugely important to the economy of towns such as Newtown, Llanidloes and Machynlleth. It is urgently needed to support the Mid Wales economy. There is a high proportion of vehicles including tourists who are currently avoiding the congested town rather than enjoying a refreshing break and to experience what Newtown has to offer.
"The scheme will address huge congestion issues not only on the main trunk road through the town but also congestion on Plantation Lane and the Treowen estate caused by vehicles including articulated lorries in an attempt to avoid the congestion through the town.
"The scheme will improve safety near schools by reducing the number of vehicles, including articulated lorries, using other routes through housing estates including Garth Owen and Treowen to avoid congestion and low bridges.
"It will also improve the response times of emergency services that are currently caught up and hampered by congestion."
He added that other proposed routes were not viable in his opinion.
