Superstores have taken advantage of the new road to move shoppers out of town and into their own hands. But, like the British government, the champions of big business in Wales refuse even to acknowledge this disaster, let alone to learn from it. Six weeks ago Rhodri Morgan, head of the Welsh assembly, opened the extension of the A55 from Bangor to Holyhead. On May 16, the same newspaper reported that Holyhead's economy has collapsed. But the purpose of the new road, of course, is to keep passengers out of town and shift them on to the ferries as swiftly as possible.
Big roads do to local economies what superstores do to small shops.
Everywhere we are assured that bigger is better, that we will prosper only by competing with the largest and fiercest corporations on earth. It's a macho fantasy which has destroyed local economies all over the world. If you want your farm or your region to thrive, then dig up the roads.