Wylfa nuclear plan 'strengthens case' for third Menai crossing says FM

PLANS for a new nuclear plant on Anglesey has strengthened the case for a third Menai crossing, says First Minister Eluned Morgan.

- By OWEN HUGHES Chief Reporter

Last month the UK Government announced that the Wylfa site on the island would be the location of the first Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) plant in the UK.

This comes five years after the collapse of the development of a large scale plant after Hitachi and the UK Government failed to reach a deal over funding.

Meanwhile a third crossing over the Menai has been on the agenda for years with it initially supported by Welsh Government before it backtracked after the roads review following the last Senedd election in 2021.

The crossing remains a problem one that has been exacerbated by closures and roadworks on the Menai Suspension Bridge. The development of the SMR site will put further pressure on the road network, particularly during the construction phase.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We first of all have got to make sure what's there now is resilient.

“Obviously the case for a third Menai crossing becomes stronger when you've got that kind of investment in North Wales. It's definitely one of the things that is on the agenda that we need to work with the local authorities in North Wales and the UK Government to see what we can put in place, but I think that strengthens the case for a third crossing, without question.”

On improvements to the existing Britannia Bridge and wider A55, she added: “So I think good progress has been made on the appraisal work and wind deflectors is definitely something that is on that list.

“So yes, we do need to get on with that because it is an absolute critical piece of infrastructure when it comes to being able to make sure that Sir Fon (Anglesey) functions properly.

“We have another review (on the A55) about what might be possible in the future because what we can't have is that clogging up, that becoming a problem.”