DWYFOR Meirionydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor said the First Minister has 'no clue' about safety concerns on the A494 and A470.

The Plaid Cymru MS challenged her in the Senedd over delays to a safety review of the two roads. This work was originally scheduled to take place in 2023 but according to Mr ap Gwynfor last year he was told it would be delayed until at least 2025/26.

There have been concerns over the both the A494 Dolgellau-Corwen Road and the A470 at Llanelltyd for some time.

According to figures from North Wales Police from January 2022 to July 2023 there were two fatalities, nine serious collisions and three slight collisions on the A494, along with 19 damage-only collisions where there were no injuries and 34 non-reportable collisions.

At First Minster's Questions, Mr ap Gwynfor asked First Minister Eluned Morgan what was being done to progress the safety review.

"I have repeatedly raised concerns about safety on the A494 between Dolgellau and Corwen and the A470 at Llanelltyd," he said. "We have received repeated assurances that road safety assessments will being made but we are still waiting and there has been no progress.

"As a result, people are still being injured on these roads and are fearful of using these routes. What is your Government doing exactly to improve safety on the A494 and A470 near Dolgellau?"

In response the First Minster said: "We have to prioritise. Some priorities are important to you in your constituency but we have to decide what we are going to prioritise.

"I know for example that work in Llanbedr is of concern to you ad those living in the area. We have to decide whether the money goes to this or to that.

"That's what's important. I think it's important that we work with the North Wales Transport Commission who have identified work and priorities in the area which will then help decide where the priority should be. 

"But I think it makes sense that local authorities in North Wales work together to ensure that the pressure and focus goes on roads that matter most to people in the north."

Afterwards, Mr ap Gwynfor hit back claiming the response was 'mealy mouthed' and the First Minister had 'no clue' about the challenges drivers face on the A494 and A470.

"The A494 between Dolgellau and Corwen and the A470 at Llanelltyd have seen several serious and fatal accidents yet work already promised to improve safety on this notorious road has been put on indefinite hold, despite repeated assurances from Ministers." he said. 

"The First Minister’s response showed she has no clue as to what is happening regarding safety on the A494 and A470. This ongoing dithering and delay is a kick in the teeth to local people who are rightly frustrated at the lack of progress in tackling this pressing issue.

"My constituents want to see these measures delivered, not mealy-mouthed excuses. People living in communities along the A494 and A470 such as Llanuwchllyn, Rhydymain, Llanfor, Glan-yr-Afon and Llanelltyd have grown accustomed to lengthy road closures and emergency vehicles descending on yet another serious accident.

"I received repeated assurances from Ministers that work to address this issue was afoot, but we’ve heard nothing for months. I call on the First Minister to look again at the pressing need to improve safety on the A494 and A470 and bring forward the work programme, including an initial safety assessment at the earliest opportunity so that my constituents can be assured that steps are afoot to address this problem."