5. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Unadopted roads

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:34 pm on 14 February 2018.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 4:34, 14 February 2018

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Lywydd. I think in this debate we've seen the National Assembly for Wales at its best, frankly. This is an issue of national importance, and it demands a national approach, as the Cabinet Secretary has just outlined, and I'm very pleased with his response, agreeing to the central tenet of a taskforce where we bring everybody together who's got interest and knowledge and, in fact, a duty to sort this issue out.

For too long, this issue has been ignored. My case load over 20, 25 years as an elected representative runs into hundreds, now, on this particular issue. I didn't realise that everybody else's case load also runs into hundreds as well. I haven't had ducks yet, but it's only a matter of time. But it does bring about huge emotion and passion as well, because I've been in so many meetings over the years where people have just said, 'Well, sorry, there's nothing that can be done,' you know. And you're an elected representative and you want to help people, and there's a problem there, and people say, 'Ah, well, it's not in planning' and all the rest of it. Well, things need to change. Things need to change. I'm very pleased with this debate this afternoon. We've come together. We've decided there's a huge issue here. Emotions have run high. Our constituents are getting abused. There's no stronger term. There's an issue that needs sorting. I mean, I was talking to somebody who said, 'Dai, unadopted roads—that's not earth-shattering, is it?' Well, I've just discovered just how earth-shattering it is, frankly, because, if you are a house owner with frontage on an unadopted road, it is a huge issue. So, I'm very grateful—. Mike.