A lack of funding may hamper vital transport improvements in Wales, with the southeast needing an estimated extra £30M, according to draft consultations published by the four regional transport consortia.

The South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta), the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITC), Taith for North Wales and TraCC for Mid Wales, are all currently asking for views on their regional transport plans for the period 2009-2014 ahead of submitting them to the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Sewta RTP consultative draft says its plans, aimed at increasing cycling, walking and public transport usage, cannot be implemented unless WAG increases its transport budget from between £60M-£70M to £100M a year.

The draft plan states: ‘Sewta believes that without a substantial increase in the capital budget for regional transport, that cannot happen. If the necessary resources to deliver the RTP are not forthcoming, then some proposals will be delayed and others will never be delivered.’

The North Wales RTP, produced by Taith, states the need to upgrade its transport network, in particular ‘the poor bus and train services and ageing highways’. It estimates that its preferred action plan will cost £240M.

The SWWITC RTP is keen to see improved and additional bus services, and encourage cycling, which will require ‘substantial new investment of capital and revenue funding.’ It is keen to look into how to tap into other sources of cash, including those from the private sector.

Future funding streams have been identified by the TraCC RTP as a major area of concern, while the report states ‘there is a lack of funding for road, bridge and footway maintenance.’

Working final RTPs will be submitted to WAG by December, with the final plans due next March.