ASSEMBLY Members have clashed over their views regarding the plans for Llandeilo bypass at a recent Welsh Government meeting.

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Adam Price has blasted the “sneering metropolitan provincialism” of his Labour and Conservative colleagues over plans for the bypass.

A deal for the long-waited £50 million route was confirmed by the government before Christmas, with work set to start in 2019.

At Tuesday’s plenary debate on the Welsh Government budget, Labour’s Lee Waters, AM for Llanelli, and Conservative AM Nick Ramsey publically criticised the nature of securing investments for specific projects.

Mr Ramsey’s questioned whether the basis of the decision to fund the bypass was correct, and Mr Waters accused Mr Price, AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, of "shifting the problem from one area to another".

Mr Price hit back in Wednesday’s meetings of AMs reiterating figures which showed Mid and West Wales had received the lowest level of investment in infrastructure of any Welsh region.

He said: "I have to say, we have heard I would say, a rather sneering tone of metropolitan provincialism attacking my party for at least trying to get some concession, some investment in the regions and the constituencies that we represent. We make no apology for equalising the level of investment.

"Those attitudes were present on the Conservative benches as well, also from Members that either represent or live in the most prosperous part of Wales.

"I would ask him this, will he commit to equalising the level of investment across Wales, so that it's not left up to my party, year in, year out, to fight for bloody scraps at the bottom of anyone's pork-barrel?"

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards also hit out at Labour's hypocrisy of saying one thing to local residents but undermining the investment in the Assembly chamber.

He said: "It is absolutely astonishing to see senior Labour and Tory AMs – both of whom live in the south east of Wales which receives a far greater level of investment - question the legitimacy of the Llandeilo bypass investment, and to do so whilst their party colleagues locally seek praise for the project.

"It's galling to see the Labour party say one thing to local residents but then go to Cardiff and completely undermine the plight of Llandeilo residents who have suffered years of pollution, diminished road safety and major traffic congestion.

"It's even more of an insult to have this done by a Labour representative of Carmarthenshire."