Carmarthenshire Council bosses will write to the Welsh Government calling for the construction of a bypass around Llandeilo as the only “practical” solution to city center congestion. The market town is divided in two by the main road from Swansea to Manchester, which narrows into the city centre. This creates problems for trucks to pass, causing queues and air pollution.

Cabinet members decided to write to Under-Secretary-General for Climate Change, Lee Waters, reiterating their position following a meeting in which they approved a workaround proposal supported by the council. Council leader Darren Price said: “The time for talking is over; Now is the time to achieve it.”

It is not the first time Cllr Price has referred to the 2017 agreement between Welsh Labor and Plaid Cymru, the party he represents, for a new diversion and a £50 million allocation to it. According to him, it is very important that politicians respect these agreements. “Trust is absolutely fundamental to any relationship and keeping your word,” he said.

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Under the council’s proposal, an options assessment in 2018 ruled out the concept of diverting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from the Llandeilo bypass without a bypass as impractical. The statement said Waters intended to potentially revive this diversion option. It has been suggested that this would be impossible and would lead to truckers using unsuitable secondary roads as shortcuts.

The statement also calls on the Welsh Government to publish the results of a second assessment of diversion options, which was carried out in 2020. Cllr Edward Thomas, independent cabinet member for transport, waste and infrastructure services, said he suspects the results of the public consultation was carried out as part of the evaluation “against the wishes of the Deputy Minister”. Cllr Thomas, who represents Llandeilo, said the town only had four trains a day and bus services were “poor”.

In July this year, Waters said transport and logistics expert Professor Andrew Potter would investigate the possible diversion of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) from Llandeilo. This would be done in parallel with ongoing work to improve the narrow main road in the city center.

Cllr Thomas said councilors recently met with Welsh Government representatives to raise concerns about the diversion-free option and were still awaiting a response. A report sent to the Cabinet Office said the council’s position was confirmed at the meeting and that there should be a commitment to a full diversion plan “as it is the only practical solution”. The report said Welsh government officials present spoke of the “difficulties and challenges” of building the bypass, including financial ones, but would convey the council’s position to Mr Waters.

Asked to comment on the council’s upcoming letter, the Welsh Government said: “We continue to work with Carmarthenshire Council on options to improve transport in Llandeilo. “This includes looking at the possible diversion of heavy trucks from Llandeilo and Professor Andrew Potter is supporting us in this work.”