Pembrokeshire is in danger of becoming a first class place with third world services, the Welsh Assembly has been warned. Angela Burns, the Conservative AM for South Pembrokeshire, led a debate on 'The Need for Withybush' in the chamber last week. She highlighted the plight of the hospital and other medical services, the dangerous state of the major roads into the county and Pembrokeshire's distance from major cities. "If Withybush Hospital was to be downgraded or closed, then those seeking treatment would have a long and difficult journey ahead of them to Glangwili, or even worse, Morriston," she told the chamber. "Over 21,000 people in Pembrokeshire live an hour or more drive away from Carmarthen." And she pointed out that there wee only two main roads into Pembrokeshire, neither of which was dualled. "Sadly, it was only last week that a tourist couple both lost their lives on the A477," she added. "And it's not just the unwary tourist or infrequent driver; we have a high rate of accidents amongst our young people. "We have half-baked proposals for bypasses at Llanddewi Velfrey and Robeston Wathen and a vague proposal for a bypass at Llanddowror, a major accident black-spot. "The proposed improvements to the A40 are now going for public consultation, with building work starting years away, and the improvements for the A477 are not even going to be considered in earnest until 2010." She also highlighted the fact that out of hours GP service at Tenby and South Pembrokeshire District hospitals was stopping in July. "Each time you move a service eastwards, you increase the level of deprivation in the western extremities," she said. "Pembrokeshire's people are in severe danger of being marginalised, of being ignored, of having third class services."
