Welsh Labour road plans 'bonkers' say Conservatives
- Published
The conference is taking place in Newport near the Brynglas Tunnels which is regularly congested
Labour is bringing Wales to a halt with its transport policies, the Welsh Conservatives have said.
A UK government minister said it was "bonkers" that Welsh ministers had scrapped all major road projects.
Richard Holden accused the Welsh government of an "ideological obsession" with trying to stop road building.
A roads review axed Wales' big schemes earlier this year.
On Friday, the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will not give any more powers to the Welsh government and the Senedd.
Welsh ministers withdrew backing for all major road projects in Wales because of climate change.
The decision caused controversy both inside and outside of the Labour party. A former economy minister accused the review of ignoring citizens.
The Welsh government-owned Transport for Wales (TfW) service has also faced difficulties - recently transport minister Lee Waters said using TfW services can be "awful".
The Conservatives are critical about the £200m spent on Cardiff Airport
Meanwhile Wizz Air has withdrawn its flights from Cardiff Airport, which is also owned by the Welsh government.
Road building and many other transport issues are controlled in Wales by the Welsh government, rather than in Westminster.
Speaking at the second day of the Welsh Conservative conference in Newport, UK roads minister Mr Holden said the policy was "obviously bonkers".
"We've got to have a situation where people can get around the country.
"I really do think the Welsh government are holding back broader investment because of their ideological obsession with trying to stop road building."
He accused the Welsh government of not being "interested" in working with UK government on road projects.
Tom Tugendhat, defended the UK government decision to cancel the sale of Newport Wafer Fab
Ahead of the session Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar, said: "Labour has ground Wales to a halt with their frankly sphinx-like approach to transport.
"Trains cancelled, road building cancelled, all whilst airlines continue to cancel their routes from Cardiff airport.
"The Welsh people want an M4 relief road, the Welsh people want a functional railway service, what the Welsh people don't want is £200m spent on a failing airport."
Natasha Asghar, Richard Holden and Craig Williams discussed transport at a Welsh Conservative conference panel
Earlier UK minister for security, Tom Tugendhat, defended the UK government decision to force the take over of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia to be reversed.
He said Chinese investors want to dominate the semiconductor industry.
"Newport Wafer Fab was a test for us all.
"The question our government had to ask was what price our future was the cost of today," Mr Tugendhat said.
"Would we recognise the importance of our innovation and defend it or see it flogged off."
"I am very proud to be in the government that chose to protect our nation here in Newport and cancel that sale."
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