CRAIG Williams says he is “dumbfounded” by the suspension of road building across Wales – but he is confident it will not affect the progress of Powys’ latest bypass project.

The Welsh Government announced on Tuesday that it is conducting a review of its highways projects and that all new road-building developments in Wales are being frozen. Deputy climate change minister Lee Waters announced the review in the Welsh Parliament.

Ministers say it is a necessary part of Wales’ efforts to reduce carbon emissions. It means plans for the Deeside “Red Route”, the Llandeilo bypass and a third Anglesey crossing will be put on hold.

But Montgomeryshire MP Mr Williams insists that progress on the Llanymynech-Pant Bypass scheme along the A483 will continue, due to the fact that the scheme is 90 per cent funded by the UK Government. He has, however, written an urgent letter to the Welsh Government – in collaboration with Montgomeryshire MS Russell George – regarding the freeze, enquiring as to how it will impact upon previous Welsh Government commitments to contribute to the bypass project.

“I am dumbfounded by the suspension of road building across Wales,” said Mr Williams.

“The UK Government have banned the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030, which has mobilised the market to seek alternatives such as electric, hydrogen and biofuel. This will of course have fundamental consequences in terms of car ownership and use, and the need for investment in our roads will be hit by the very old and traditional approach to climate change.

“In terms of the local preparations for the Llanymynech-Pant bypass, current works will not be affected as the UK Government are continuing in progressing options and the business case. “Previous Welsh Governments have committed to funding their share of the bypass, and I have written to them jointly with Russell George today to discuss how this suspension will impact upon the bypass from their side.

“Clearly, there are two options; either the Welsh Government concludes that the bypass is essential – which I fully believe it is – and fund their proportion, or otherwise we will push the UK Government to fund the entire project given its status as an essential road improvement locally, regionally and nationally.”

A campaign by politicians and residents in Llanymynech, on the Welsh side of the border, and Pant, on the English side, to construct a bypass surrounding the two villages and alleviate traffic issues has been ongoing for around 40 years.

Mr Williams said earlier this year that “big progress” was being made on an attempt to bring the long-awaited bypass on the A483 to fruition, although Tuesday’s news seemed to certainly suggest there would be delays ahead.

Conservative MP Owen Paterson, who represents North Shropshire, described the review as “not good news”, although he expects the project to continue as most of the work is due to be done on the English side of the divide.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak last year announced £10 million of UK Government funding into a consultation for the proposed bypass.

The ambitious plans are said to feature extensive improvements to road infrastructure along the A5 into Shropshire and North Wales.

It is hoped that if the project does eventually come to fruition, it will make life easier for people who live, work and access public services on different sides of the Wales-England border, by enabling drivers to bypass the two villages between Welshpool and Oswestry where bottlenecks frequently occur. The bypass would greatly improve the safety of road users, significantly reducing journey times, on what is a notorious stretch of road.