Concerns raised over public spending as £70m project faces uncertain future

A MAJOR rail testing project in south Wales must not be allowed to repeat the mistakes of the failed Circuit of Wales development, a senior Conservative politician has warned.

South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies raised concerns during Senedd proceedings on Tuesday (Feb 24) about the proposed Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), a multi-million-pound rail innovation and testing facility planned for the Dulais Valley.

Mr Davies said ministers needed to ensure the project delivered results after significant public funding had already been committed, warning taxpayers across Wales could ultimately bear the cost if it failed.

He pointed to the Circuit of Wales motorsport project near Ebbw Vale, which collapsed after consuming millions of pounds of investment, as a cautionary example.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr Davies said: “Senedd ministers have a poor track record wasting money.

“Under Plaid Cymru separatists and Labour, costs always soar out of control.

“The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is an exciting prospect – it must not go the same way as the failed Circuit of Wales.”

He told members that around £70 million of public funding had already been invested but that the site remained largely undeveloped when he visited in the autumn.

Mr Davies also warned that a future government could face a requirement to secure around £330 million to make the project viable, raising concerns about long-term affordability and delivery.

Responding, First Minister Eluned Morgan defended the Welsh Government’s investment in rail infrastructure, highlighting improvements to the South Wales Valleys lines and new rolling stock.

She said the Global Centre of Rail Excellence represented a “major strategic opportunity” for the Dulais Valley and confirmed both the Welsh and UK governments had committed funding, with private sector investment also being pursued.

The First Minister added that a final investment decision would ultimately be taken by the next government following the Senedd elections.

The project has been promoted as a flagship regeneration scheme aimed at creating jobs and boosting Wales’ rail sector, although questions remain about funding and delivery timelines.

THE STATE of the NHS in Wales came under renewed political pressure on Tuesday (Feb 24) after the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives accused the Welsh Government of allowing hospitals to fall into “managed decline” following nearly three decades of Labour rule.

During First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd, Darren Millar MS said the health service across Wales was “quite literally crumbling”, citing pressures on hospital infrastructure, long waiting times and concerns about service changes affecting patients in west Wales.

He warned that proposed changes to emergency surgery and stroke services at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth could force patients to travel further for urgent treatment.

Millar also highlighted performance pressures elsewhere in Wales, including long waits in emergency departments in north Wales and reports of deteriorating conditions at major hospitals in Cardiff.

Commenting after the session, Mr Millar said: “After twenty-seven years of mismanagement and Labour budget deals with Plaid and the Lib Dems, the Welsh NHS estate is quite literally crumbling.

“From Withybush to Glan Clwyd and even the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, patients are facing delays, understaffed wards, and hospitals in disrepair.

“The Welsh Government must step in now and intervene to stop these reckless cuts to emergency surgery and stroke services in west Wales before lives are jeopardised.”

The Welsh Conservatives say they would declare a health emergency and prioritise reducing waiting times if elected to government.

Concerns about the future of services at Withybush Hospital have been ongoing, with campaigners and local politicians previously warning about the impact of centralising specialist care away from rural areas.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said the NHS in Wales continues to face significant pressures but investment is being made to improve services, reduce waiting lists and modernise hospital facilities.

They added that decisions about local services are made by health boards based on clinical evidence and patient safety.

Figures revealed in Senedd questions as political row intensifies ahead of election

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has come under political pressure after it emerged that more than £1.2m has been spent developing an anti-racism “virtual world” educational platform for colleges across Wales.

The figures were confirmed in response to written Senedd questions from Conservative MS Natasha Asghar, with ministers stating that £1,204,326.55 has been invested in the project since 2022 as part of a wider further education anti-racism curriculum programme.

The immersive platform — commonly referred to as the “metaverse” — was developed by further education colleges led by Cardiff and Vale College. Ministers say it has been used across all Welsh colleges as part of teaching designed to support understanding of racism, inequality and inclusion.

Responsibility for ongoing funding decisions now sits with Medr, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research, which oversees tertiary education funding in Wales.

Political criticism

The spending has been criticised by the Welsh Conservatives, who argue public money should instead be directed toward frontline services.

Natasha Asghar MS, the Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education, said: “Spending over £1.2 million of taxpayers’ money on Labour and Plaid’s anti-racist metaverse is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.

“At a time when waiting lists are spiralling, A&E performance is worsening and our school standards are slipping, this represents another example of Labour and Plaid Cymru prioritising ideology over frontline services.

“People across Wales want money spent on health, schools and social care, not on virtual worlds that do nothing to tackle the real-world challenges facing families and communities.”

Government position

The Welsh Government has previously said the project forms part of its Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to make Wales an anti-racist nation by 2030.

When the curriculum initiative was launched, ministers described inclusive education as a key part of improving opportunities for learners and tackling inequality across society.

Officials have also confirmed that since 2024 responsibility for funding decisions has moved to Medr, reflecting wider changes to how tertiary education is managed in Wales.

Questions remain

While ministers say the resource has been used across the further education sector, it is not yet clear how frequently the platform is accessed by students, what evaluation has been carried out into its effectiveness, or how the funding was allocated between development, technology and teaching materials.

Opposition politicians are expected to continue raising questions about value for money as further details emerge.

Political analysis

The row comes at a sensitive political moment, with Senedd elections scheduled for May and all parties seeking to draw dividing lines over public spending priorities.

For the Conservatives, the issue fits a broader campaign narrative focused on government waste, public services under pressure and concerns about what they describe as “ideological” policies.

For Labour and Plaid Cymru, however, the project sits within a long-term policy commitment to equality and inclusion in education, which both parties argue is central to improving outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

Whether the issue gains wider traction with voters may depend less on the educational content itself and more on public perceptions of spending priorities during a period of financial pressure on health services, local government and household budgets.

If the controversy escalates — particularly if questions emerge about procurement, usage levels or measurable outcomes — it could become a more prominent issue during the election campaign.

For now, it remains a developing political dispute rooted in Senedd scrutiny rather than a major parliamentary confrontation, but one that highlights the contrasting visions parties are presenting to Welsh voters ahead of polling day.

(Cover image: Stock photo)