MORE support from the UK Government is needed in order to make Llanymynech’s bypass a reality, according to a Welsh Government Minister.

Speaking at the opening of Newtown’s bypass last week, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates said it was something that was being looked into, but that Government needed to prioritise Welsh projects over ‘money being spent in the South East of England.’

“It would be great to be standing at the opening of a Pant and Llanymynech bypass in a few years time, but there needs to be funding from the UK Government,” he said.

“There is a lot of good work going on behind the scenes between the Welsh Government and Highways England, and we now need the Department of Transport to offer the financial support towards building a bypass in Llanymynech.”

“It is not just this area we have been looking to improve, there is work looking at the road between Ruabon and Shrewsbury.

“It is a bypass some of the way, but there are a number of pinch points along the way and we are looking into ways to improve this.

“At the moment there is a lot of money being spent on projects in the south east of England. There is a need for money to be spent in the north, not just in Wales.”

The campaign by residents and politicians to bring a bypass to the two villages has been ongoing for almost 40 years.

Campaigners were given a boost in September 2018 when Shropshire councillor Steve Davenport revealed there had been fresh talks on the issue between politicians on both sides of the English and Welsh border.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said a fresh round of investments was set to be announced later this year.

She said: “We are working with the Welsh Government and Highways England to explore how cross-border routes can be improved to the benefit of road users and local residents.

“Our second Road Investment Strategy covering the years 2020 to 2025, is due to be published later this year and will inform future funding decisions.”