Reducing Air Pollution

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:00 pm on 23 January 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:00, 23 January 2019

Thank you. As you say, there is a 50 mph speed limit that's been imposed there and that will be reviewed periodically. We will leave them in place as long as we think necessary to maintain air quality standards on that part of the road. I think what's really paramount to the effectiveness of these 50 mph speed limits—I've got one in my own constituency—obviously, is compliance. I think we need to be much more upfront about what it is. I've certainly heard people say in Wrexham that they don't understand why they've got that stretch of 50 mph. We've now got a sign saying that it's to reduce emissions. But I think perhaps we need to be even more clear in relation to that.

We will be commissioning a further review of measures that may have the potential to improve air quality at the location of nitrogen dioxide exceedance. We're also taking significant steps around congestion on the A470, and I know that my colleague Ken Skates—his officials have established a pinchpoints programme to look at a range of solutions to address the known problems in that area.