CLIMATE and environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg has welcomed the Welsh Government halting of all new road projects.

On Tuesday, the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters said all current proposals for new roads across Wales would be shelved pending review.

Welcoming the pause on Twitter, the Swedish activist quoted Mr Waters, who had said: "We need a shift away from spending money on projects that encourage more people to drive, and spend more money on maintaining our roads and investing in real alternatives that give people a meaningful choice.”

The tweet was retweeted by the Welsh Government, who added: "Diolch @GretaThunberg for sharing this. This is just one of our ambitious plans to tackle the #ClimateEmergency and reach net zero emissions before 2050. We have a lot of work to do and would love to discuss more. Just let us know if that’s of interest."

Included in the projects to be reviewed is the £300m “Red Route”.

Included in the list of proposals to be reviewed is the so-called “Red Route” proposed to help deal with traffic problems on the A55.

The scheme, first proposed in 2017, would see construction of a new 13km dual carriageway linking the A55 at Northop with the A494 and A550 north of Deeside Parkway Junction via the Flintshire Bridge.

I would cut through woodland and farmland, which has sparked opposition from organisations and effected communities.

Mr Waters will also ask a review panel to consider setting a series of tests for future proposals to build new roads, inline with Llwybr Newydd, the Welsh Government’s latest transport strategy.

Delyn MS Hannah Blythyn MS welcomed the announcement.

She said: “Since these proposals were first introduced, I have worked with constituents to raise their concerns, and to push colleagues in the Welsh Government to consider more appropriate solutions to transport problems faced in our corner of the country.

“Following the changes in transport patterns caused by the pandemic, the Welsh Government’s declaration of a climate emergency and the transport hierarchy introduced by Llwybr Newydd, it is only right that we take the opportunity to pause and reflect."

Another scheme halted is the the Llanymynech-Pant bypass on the A483 on the border of Wales and England.

A campaign by residents in Llanymynech and Pant, and politicians to construct a bypass surrounding the two villages and alleviate traffic issues has been ongoing for around 40 years.

Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, said: “It’s not good news but the project has a lot of momentum behind it.

“It’s not helpful news but this is mainly an English project so I would expect it to continue.

“This has been a very long-standing priority for Wales getting this road all the way up from Swansea to Wrexham. Having done Newtown and before that Four Crosses, I would expect the Welsh Government to continue to support it.

“It certainly won’t stop what we are doing.”

Last year as part of the budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £10 million of UK Government funding into a consultation for the proposed bypass.

Referring to Greta Thunberg's support, Twitter user Hefin Richards said: "Greta does not live in Pant or Llanymynech does she….?"