Funding for Newbridge repairs may not emerge until next year with fear road could be closed until 2023

Funding for full repairs to the Newbridge landslip look likely to not be allocated before April 2022, meaning the road could remain closed off until 2023.

A section of the B5605 between Newbridge and Cefn Mawr was severely damaged during Storm Christoph in January, when torrential downpours caused part of the footpath to collapse down an embankment.

As we have previously reported Wrexham Council previously applied for funding from the Welsh Government to fix the damage to the area and secure the footpath and road, however the request was knocked back as it did not meet the relevant criteria.

New correspondence seen by Wrexham.com notes the funding bid was “….unsuccessful because repair works would not reduce the risk of flooding to properties and would only benefit the highway”.

The letter, to Ken Skates MS from Minister for Climate Change Julie James MS, adds, “However, officials within the Transport Planning and Evaluation, Economic Infrastructure team are aware of the issue. They have advised representatives of Wrexham CBC that although funding allocation for the Resilient Road Fund grant has been allocated this financial year, they are open to discuss funding for future financial years, depending on the UK Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.”

The portfolio of Julie James MS encompasses a wide range of matters, including the very relevant roads, water, mitigation and adaptation in relation to climate change, including water – land drainage and flood.

We asked Wrexham Council if that was what they had also been advised, and if so, did it effectively mean the issue will remain unresolved until a new bid is made for funding in 2022.

Cllr David A Bithell Lead Member and Deputy Leader said, “We have received a letter to say that Welsh Government are open to discuss funding for future years which is dependent on the UK Government comprehensive spending review. This is why we are pressing for additional funding for these essential works. I have written to local MS and MP asking they press both Welsh and UK Government.

“Officers continue to work hard examining options and solutions that will allow this vital piece of the highway network to safely be re-opened for users. Whilst the remedial measures at this site may not reduce the risk of flooding of properties the fractured network here does present a series of logistical problems including severing local community links.

“Undoubtedly its current condition does impact the resilience of the local road network in this area for regular users and emergency services with alternative routes presenting a significant detour adding to journey times. We will continue to explore all opportunities to secure funding enabling repairs to the road in this area.”

We have also been told that there were some suggestions from Cardiff Bay that fault lay with Wrexham Council due to the ‘unsuccessful’ application for funding as it benefited a highway rather than reduce flood risks to housing, and therefore it should have been known it would not match the criteria. This has been flatly rejected by Wrexham Council insiders, who pointed to ‘firm commitments’ from Welsh Government to resolve the well known issue in Newbridge.

We asked Wrexham Council if they were content with the application lodged and that the right process was followed, Cllr David A Bithell said: “We applied for funding following storm Christoph as requested by Welsh Government. This funding was prioritised for internal flooding schemes, in this case, there was no internal flooding only major infrastructure damage. At the time we were following the guidance supplied from Welsh Government to local authorities.

“I have written to Minster for Climate Change and local MP and MS who are all supportive and have lobbied Welsh Government. We continue to work with officials to seek transport related funding to re-open the road and have carried out extensive geotechnical surveys of the area.”

In February we documented how Wrexham Council’s deputy leader and Lead Member Environment and Transport David A Bithell had publicly called for ministers to keep to their ‘promise’ to provide money to cover the costs of damage.

It appears there is concerns from both ends of Wales over the scope of works that are needed and the scale of the yet unknown bill to fix the landslip damage. A person familiar with the matter, and the possible timescales involved, suggested to Wrexham.com that even with a promptly allocated successful bid in the new financial year (April 2022) it could mean the road remains closed until early 2023 due to the many months needed to complete the large scale project.

You can view the damage on the below drone footage: