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Residents and councillors from Aston gathered outside the Plough Inn yesterday, after Wales Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones made a sensational announcement that plans to turn the A494 dual carriageway into a seven lane 'super-highway' were to be thrown out.

Plans for the proposed 'North Wales Motorway' have been the subject of a long-standing public debate, with about 2,300 fierce objections to the scheme received at a public inquiry in September last year.

According to Mr Wyn Jones, it was on this basis that he made his decision to axe the plans.
Resident David Hough said: "It's good news and common sense has prevailed in the long run. It has been a hard fight on behalf of the residents and the coalition committee.

"We don't need a multi-motorway through the community, splitting the community in half. It has been a well fought campaign."

Resident David Mackie of Aston Hill said: "We fought for this and we have won.

"This is wonderful – the result of a lot of hard work."

Sue Clamp, of Old Aston Hill, added: "It's wonderful news. We are absolutely delighted. We didn't actually expect the proposal to be completely scrapped.

"We understand the road will still have to be improved and we don't know what the alternative proposals will be, but we are thrilled the original proposals will not take place."

Brian Miller said: "I think common sense prevailed and we won a good hard fight."

Community leaders have also spoken of their relief and say they are delighted with the result.


Pat Yale, a former councillor who has been involved in the campaign from 1992, said: "I am so proud today that Aston councillors Helen Gambino and George Hardcastle have had success with fighting the scheme. But they couldn't have done it without the community and all the residents. If the people weren't fighting then it could have been a different decision. The inspector has listened to the people and we thank him for that."

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami said: "This is excellent news for the community and for the tax payer. The expansion design was far larger than anybody wanted and I am hugely relieved that the Welsh Assembly has reached the right decision.

"This is a victory for people power. The breadth and depth of opposition to this plan was enormous and all protesters should feel proud of what they have achieved."

North Wales AM Mark Isherwood added: "I have represented the views of many residents for the last few years, through the public inquiry and raising the issue in the Assembly. This is a victory for them.

"The entire process was done without considering the impact of resident's lives and health.

"They have already contacted me today to show their relief and gratitude.

"I welcome the decision to abandon this plan but also recognise that something must be done to alleviate traffic problems in the area.
"Providing a modern transport infrastructure is important for the local economy and for the whole of North Wales.

"Alternative plans must carry the support of local residents to ensure they are not adversely affected by any new development."

Delyn AM Sandy Mewies said: "I am delighted that the voices of thousands of local people have been listened to.

"I joined with local campaigners in their protest against this road which would have had an appalling environmental impact. I also gave evidence at the public inquiry because I felt the impact of the road would be felt throughout the county. Any improvements must take into account the effect on the people directly effected as well as the wider environmental issues."

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant added: "This is great news for local residents.

"I have been arguing strongly on behalf of constituents that a scheme of this magnitude is deeply inappropriate for the area, and I am pleased that the inspector has listened to these concerns. The proposed changes to the road would have had a terrible impact on the quality of life of local people and the environment here. The scheme has rightly been rejected on the basis that the scale and size of the proposed road would have a really negative impact on the area.

"I have also expressed my concern on many occasions that other routes have not been fully considered, and have argued in favour of greater investment in public transport and the reduction of the volume of freight on our roads in Alyn and Deeside.

"I am absolutely delighted by today's announcement. It is the right decision."

The decision has also prompted celebrations across the region, where councillors and campaigners have supported the efforts of Aston residents.

Buckley councillor Carol Ellis said: "It is great news. It makes all the work that we did through the summer to fight the proposals worthwhile. It really shows that when people stand up and be counted, they are a force to be reckoned with."

John Marek, former Wrexham AM, said: "The right decision has been made. I am absolutely delighted that the minister has accepted the recommendations and I would give him special credit for that."

Tony Sharps, Northop Hall councillor, added: "This decision is great news for Northop Hall and the country lanes surrounding it. All of the narrow lanes would have been under attack during the construction period for the A494.

"Improvements in the area are necessary, but the entire scheme was ill-thought out from the beginning. The Welsh Assembly will now need to look at a solution properly at last."

Environmental campaigner Klaus Armstrong Braun, of Saltney, said that although he was pleased that the plans had been scrapped, the issue of congestion needed to be addressed.

He said: "It's good news but they need to look at the problem of congestion and pollution.

"There needs to be a congestion charge or the road needs to be widened – not a superhighway – but to be made bigger or to open up the hard shoulder in peak times.

"Having congestion charges is the best option because it is mostly local traffic – people would walk instead of using their cars."

The Minister will now work towards a new scheme to address road improvement issues at Aston.

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