3. Statement by the Minister for Environment: Air Quality

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:14 pm on 24 April 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 3:14, 24 April 2018

I thank the Member for his good luck wishes there. To deal with the first thing in terms of the 50 mph temporary speed limit between Upper Boat and Pontypridd, it's from the Upper Boat roundabout on to the A4058 roundabout at Pontypridd; it's exactly 4.2 km. So, some of these areas are actually—particularly the one I'm most familiar with, in Deeside—an extension of perhaps where there might have been existing temporary 50 mph zones before. 

Interaction with local councils: a key part of this is—. We can take action on the trunk roads, but the key part of being able to do this is to offer resources as well as guidance. Clean air zones in major cities like Cardiff are an option with this, and in other places where they may work best and may be a fitting solution to the problems. The plan and the clean air programme will also try to identify, through our monitoring, what is the best solution, what is the action needed in certain places and what best suits those places and what the problem is.

I think one alternative with that, in terms of schools—and you've all raised that today—I think I'd go back to this behavioural change, and this generational shift and bringing the younger generation with us in terms of tackling any pollution and monitoring it around schools and coming up with their own solutions, whether that be behavioural change campaigns such as walking buses, 'no idling' policies outside the school, scootering to school or using bikes. I'm very keen to support the growth of that in terms of making sure that we develop that pester power and actually start—you know, that we take measures now to tackle air pollution and air quality problems right across the country. I think it is really, really key to make sure that we educate the next generation in particular to take this forward in the future.