Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has been astonished to find out that the South and North Wales metros are financial blackholes.
In response to two questions tabled by Janet asking what the predicted cost of the North and South Metros would be respectively, Lee Waters, Minister for Climate Change, has responded by saying that “There is not a total predicted cost”.
In 2021, it was revealed that the cost for the South Wales Metro would be set at £738m, plus an additional £800m for new rolling stock.
Since then there have been a distinct change in the plans and ultimate outcomes of the projects. A report in 2023 revealed that costs for the South Wales Metro had ballooned by 40% to well over £1bn. Moreover, in a significant setback for connectivity, plans to expand services between North Wales and the North West of England have been dropped. Previously announced intentions to extend the Liverpool-Chester route to the popular seaside resort of Llandudno were scrapped in December as the arrival of the new £800m rolling stock was delayed.
What is even more concerning is that Lee Waters, in responding to Janet’s question, has explained that “We are moving away from the concept of Metros, and to regional transport planning”. What is quite meant by this is unclear but it seems that what started off as consistent national approach to rail travel has been broken up into a fractious mix of independent incoherent projects.
Commenting on this, Janet said:
“I was quite shocked when I received the response from the Deputy Minister. To not know your predicted costs of an infrastructure project so huge is unbelievably poor. As representatives entrusted with the peoples purse you would think that it is only right to be open and upfront with your budgeting.
“It seems completely irresponsible to me to be blindly proceeding with vast infrastructure projects without knowing how much money your going to require. Are we all just expected to keep rummaging through our pockets and looking under the sofa for spare pennies when the going gets tough?
“This to me is yet another example of fiscal negligence. Another example of the Welsh Government displaying their disregard for the trust people bestow upon them to look after their money wisely and responsibly.
“The Welsh Government have dithered and delayed over and over again, so much so that they’ve manifested a situation where they do not know what is going on and how much these projects will cost. It’s like waiting for a TfW train – Who knows?
“What’s more is that due to these fractured projects the North-South divide will only worsen. The South stands to benefit from a billion pounds worth of investment while the North is only expected to receive 5% of that – £50m.
“This is why we need a Welsh Conservative government, one that is open and transparent about public spending. It the most important job we have, to be fiscally responsible, and after the last few months Welsh Labour have shown that they are not up to the job.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi synnu o ddarganfod bod metros De a Gogledd Cymru yn llyncu arian yn ddi-ben-draw.
Mewn ymateb i ddau gwestiwn a gyflwynwyd gan Janet yn gofyn beth fyddai cost ddisgwyliedig Metro'r Gogledd a'r De yn y drefn honno, atebodd Lee Waters, y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, drwy ddweud "na ellir rhagweld y gost".
Yn 2021, datgelwyd y byddai'r gost ar gyfer Metro De Cymru yn £738m, ynghyd â £800m ychwanegol ar gyfer cerbydau newydd.
Ers hynny bu newid pendant yn y cynlluniau a chanlyniadau terfynol y prosiectau. Dangosodd adroddiad yn 2023 fod costau Metro De Cymru wedi chwyddo 40% i ymhell dros £1bn. Ar ben hynny, mewn ergyd sylweddol i gysylltedd, mae cynlluniau i ehangu gwasanaethau rhwng Gogledd Cymru a Gogledd Orllewin Lloegr wedi mynd i’r gwellt. Cafodd cynlluniau a gyhoeddwyd yn flaenorol i ymestyn llwybr Lerpwl-Caer i gyrchfan glan môr boblogaidd Llandudno eu dileu ym mis Rhagfyr ar ôl gohirio’r gwariant o £800m ar gerbydau newydd.
Yr hyn sy'n achosi’r pryder mwyaf yw bod Lee Waters, wrth ymateb i gwestiwn Janet, wedi egluro, "Rydyn ni’n symud i ffwrdd o'r cysyniad o Fetros, ac i gynllunio trafnidiaeth ranbarthol". Nid yw union ystyr hyn yn glir ond mae'n ymddangos bod yr hyn a ddechreuodd fel ymagwedd genedlaethol gyson at deithio ar y rheilffyrdd wedi hollti’n gymysgedd o brosiectau anghyson annibynnol.
Wrth sôn am hyn, dywedodd Janet:
"Cefais dipyn o sioc clywed ymateb y Dirprwy Weinidog. Mae peidio â gwybod costau disgwyliedig prosiect seilwaith mor enfawr yn warthus. Fel cynrychiolwyr yr ymddiriedir arian cyhoeddus iddyn nhw, byddech chi'n meddwl ei bod hi ond yn iawn i fod yn agored a gonest gyda'ch cyllidebau.
"Mae'n ymddangos yn gwbl anghyfrifol i mi eu bod yn bwrw ymlaen yn ddigyfeiriad gyda phrosiectau seilwaith enfawr heb wybod faint o arian fydd ei angen. Yn enwedig o ystyried bod gennym wasanaethau eraill sy’n ysu am fuddsoddiad. Oes disgwyl i bob un ohonom ni barhau i roi ein dwylo yn ein pocedi ac edrych o dan y soffa am geiniogau sbâr pan fydd pethau’n mynd yn anodd?
"Mae hyn i mi yn enghraifft arall o esgeulustod ariannol. Enghraifft arall o Lywodraeth Cymru yn gwbl ddifater o'r ymddiriedaeth y mae pobl yn ei rhoi ynddyn nhw i ofalu am eu harian yn ddoeth ac yn gyfrifol.
"Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi llusgo eu sodlau ac oedi dro ar ôl tro, i’r graddau eu bod wedi creu sefyllfa lle nad ydyn nhw'n gwybod beth sy'n digwydd a faint fydd y prosiectau hyn yn ei gostio. Mae fel aros am drên TrC - pwy a ŵyr?
"Yn fwy na hynny, oherwydd y prosiectau digyswllt hyn, gwaethygu fydd y rhaniad Gogledd-De. Mae'r De yn elwa ar fuddsoddiad gwerth biliwn o bunnoedd tra mai dim ond 5% o hynny y disgwylir i'r Gogledd ei dderbyn - £50m.
"Dyna pam mae angen llywodraeth Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, un sy'n agored ac yn dryloyw am wariant cyhoeddus. Dyma'r gwaith pwysicaf sydd gennym, i fod yn gyfrifol yn gyllidol, ac ar ôl y misoedd diwethaf mae Llafur Cymru wedi dangos nad ydyn nhw'n gallu gwneud hynny."
DIWEDD
