Notice of Motion by Councillor Elfed Wyn ab Elwyn
In accordance with the Notice of Motion received under Section 4.20 of
the Constitution, Councillor Elfed Wyn ab Elwyn will propose as follows:-
“That the Council supports the Welsh Government’s aim to re-open the railways of Wales, to
create a railway through west Wales, and to call on them for a scoping
/ feasibility study of the line between Afon Wen and Bangor.”
Additional documents:
Decision:
That the Council supports
the aim of the Welsh Government to re-open the railways of Wales, to create a
railway through west Wales, and calls on them for a scoping/viability study of
the line between Afon wen and Bangor.
Minutes:
(C) Submitted - the
following notice of motion by Councillor Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn in accordance with
Section 4.20 of the Constitution, and it was seconded:-
The member set out the context to his motion,
noting that:-
·
The Beeching cuts
had been very painful to our nation in the 1960s. Hundreds of miles of train lines were torn from the
ground, leaving only scars on land where the lines used to cross for over a
century.
·
Once the trains disappeared, the communities around the old line were
now further from each other, and the car did not bind these rural communities
as the train had done. As well as giving
assurance to residents of being able to travel from one place to another, the
trains meant less pressure on the roads, and offered an alternative option to
travel by car to the far reaches of the country.
·
That it was mad that it was taking so much time for us to reach our own
capital city, and we were forced to go through another country to get to
Cardiff.
·
It was essential that Wales had a railway
line that links our communities once more.
·
The line in its
new guise would not only link our nation internally, but would give a huge
boost to our economy, creating new jobs, opportunities for new economic developments
and would be a catalyst for the scattered communities throughout the
county.
·
A railway from
the south to the north, would not only be a modern backbone to our national
transport system, but would also reinforce our confidence as a nation.
Several members
expressed their support to the proposal.
A member noted the importance of ensuring that
no plans to re-open railways would affect green lanes, such as Lôn Eifion.
RESOLVED to adopt the motion, namely:-
That the Council supports the Welsh Government's
aim to re-open the railways of Wales, to create a railway through west Wales,
and to call on them for a scoping/feasibility study of the line between Afon
wen and Bangor.