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| Seven-lane road inquiry underway | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A public inquiry has begun into controversial plans to expand a dual carriageway into a seven-lane highway. | |
| The scheme would see the widening of the A494 trunk road between Ewloe and Queensferry, in Flintshire. | The scheme would see the widening of the A494 trunk road between Ewloe and Queensferry, in Flintshire. |
| Objectors fear it will increase noise and pollution and are unhappy the speed limit would rise from 50mph to 70mph. | Objectors fear it will increase noise and pollution and are unhappy the speed limit would rise from 50mph to 70mph. |
| The Welsh Assembly Government said the project had been planned for many years and the inquiry would allow people to express their opinions. | The Welsh Assembly Government said the project had been planned for many years and the inquiry would allow people to express their opinions. |
| The A494 links the A55 with the north-west of England, bypassing places like Ewloe, Aston and Queensferry. | The A494 links the A55 with the north-west of England, bypassing places like Ewloe, Aston and Queensferry. |
| Congestion is already an issue on the route, the assembly government has said, and this would increase without the work. | Congestion is already an issue on the route, the assembly government has said, and this would increase without the work. |
| But residents from Northop, Queensferry, Ewloe and Aston, on Deeside, formed a coalition committee to oppose it. | But residents from Northop, Queensferry, Ewloe and Aston, on Deeside, formed a coalition committee to oppose it. |
| Around 150 people attended a demonstration against the plans in January when the final draft of the proposals were unveiled. | Around 150 people attended a demonstration against the plans in January when the final draft of the proposals were unveiled. |
| It is important to note that the outcome of the public inquiry is not prejudged in any way Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson | It is important to note that the outcome of the public inquiry is not prejudged in any way Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson |
| The protest took a musical turn when amateur songwriter John Butler, from Shotton, Flintshire, wrote "A494 Agony", conveying his concerns. | The protest took a musical turn when amateur songwriter John Butler, from Shotton, Flintshire, wrote "A494 Agony", conveying his concerns. |
| Committee chairman and community councillor George Hardcastle said the coalition understood that the road does needs to be improved. | Committee chairman and community councillor George Hardcastle said the coalition understood that the road does needs to be improved. |
| He said: "We agree the road needs updating and improving...but not to the volume of lanes they are suggesting." | He said: "We agree the road needs updating and improving...but not to the volume of lanes they are suggesting." |
| Cllr Hardcastle said the plans included four lanes travelling towards Ewloe and three in the opposite direction. There would also be hard shoulders on both carriageways. | Cllr Hardcastle said the plans included four lanes travelling towards Ewloe and three in the opposite direction. There would also be hard shoulders on both carriageways. |
| Houses bought under compulsory purchase order would be demolished for the expansion. | Houses bought under compulsory purchase order would be demolished for the expansion. |
| Cllr Hardcastle claimed this meant the seven-lane road would come "within 1-metre of some people's back gardens - practically on the doorstep of people." | Cllr Hardcastle claimed this meant the seven-lane road would come "within 1-metre of some people's back gardens - practically on the doorstep of people." |
| He added: "You will have more noise, more pollution, they also want to increase the speed from 50 to 70mph." | He added: "You will have more noise, more pollution, they also want to increase the speed from 50 to 70mph." |
| Two lanes in each direction with a hard shoulder on each was all that was needed, he said. | Two lanes in each direction with a hard shoulder on each was all that was needed, he said. |
| The A494 stretch involved is from Ewloe to just beyond Queensferry | The A494 stretch involved is from Ewloe to just beyond Queensferry |
| Another concern, he said, was that major junctions at the Ewloe interchange and the Plough junction would be closed. | Another concern, he said, was that major junctions at the Ewloe interchange and the Plough junction would be closed. |
| This would lead to all community traffic going through Queensferry to get onto the A494 and the area already had major problems with traffic. | This would lead to all community traffic going through Queensferry to get onto the A494 and the area already had major problems with traffic. |
| Forty objectors will be speaking at the inquiry which begun on Tuesday, according to Cllr Hardcastle. | |
| 'Independent inspector' | 'Independent inspector' |
| A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said the project had been in the Truck Road Forward Programme for many years. | A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said the project had been in the Truck Road Forward Programme for many years. |
| The spokesperson said: "The whole purpose of the public inquiry is to enable anyone, who has an interest, to have their opinions and evidence heard by an independent inspector so that he can draw his conclusions and make recommendations to the minister. | The spokesperson said: "The whole purpose of the public inquiry is to enable anyone, who has an interest, to have their opinions and evidence heard by an independent inspector so that he can draw his conclusions and make recommendations to the minister. |
| "It is by this means that the deputy first minister, the minister for the economy and transport, will be able to make a fully informed decision on the merit of the proposals with the benefit of the inspector's recommendations. | "It is by this means that the deputy first minister, the minister for the economy and transport, will be able to make a fully informed decision on the merit of the proposals with the benefit of the inspector's recommendations. |
| "It is important to note that the outcome of the public inquiry is not prejudged in any way." | "It is important to note that the outcome of the public inquiry is not prejudged in any way." |