The Welsh Assembly Government has "passed the buck" back to Pembrokeshire County Council on road improvement work in Johnston.

Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Welsh Minister for the Economy and Transport, told Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies that it was up to the county council to prioritise the Bulford Road improvement scheme.

The failure by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to fund the work needed in Johnston was branded as "criminal" by council leader John Davies last week.

The Welsh Assembly Government has already spent £300,000 on preliminary design and preparation costs for the Bulford scheme, but a pitifully low Transport Grant meant that there is not enough money for it to become reality.

Former Labour councillor Ken Rowlands, now an Independent, joined in last weeks' attack and said that he had tried repeatedly to get hold of the Welsh transport Minister to discuss the matter.

Paul Davies wrote to the Minister after hearing concerns about the project whilst attending Johnston Community Council.

"I asked him why the project was not going ahead and when this much needed road improvement might be likely to start," he said.

"He wrote back saying that it was up to the council to prioritise the scheme in the Regional Transport Plan for 2009 – 2010.

"I have already expressed my grave concern at the pitifully small Transport Grant received by Pembrokeshire, we got just £797,000 compared to over £10 million for Ceredigion.

"It is just not good enough for the Welsh Assembly Government to be passing the buck on this one."