11. 11. Short Debate: The Swansea Bay City Region

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:40 pm on 5 April 2017.

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Photo of Suzy Davies Suzy Davies Conservative 6:40, 5 April 2017

Thanks you for giving me a minute here, Mike. I think, with the city deal, the direct loan to Yr Egin and the prospect of a prison coming to Port Talbot shortly, that puts to bed the idea that the UK Government isn’t interested in investing in south Wales. But I think you’re right to raise two points in particular with this. The first is to query the role of local input and how residents within the city bay region can contribute to its detailed design, if you like, and also the issue of transport as well, rather than just relying on digital infrastructure. We do need to look at why the plan has missed this opportunity to talk about interconnectivity. I hope you’ll agree—I raised this a little bit earlier on—that congestion and air quality should go hand in hand in any discussions about transport and infrastructure, and that we shouldn’t lose the opportunity to consider things like monorails and trams and light railway, as well as the existing rail network that you’re talking about, even though it is closed. And, if we are talking about buses and taxis, maybe there should be a presumption now that we shouldn’t be looking at diesel models. I completely agree with what you said about the cycle tracks. There’s no point them going all round the houses; people just won’t use them, then. Thank you.