7. Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Active Travel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:56 pm on 20 February 2019.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 5:56, 20 February 2019

Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. May I thank everybody who's taken part in this very important debate? There is a strong consensus, as Russell George mentioned, behind the legislation. I do believe that it's legislation with great potential and great importance; I would say that, Dirprwy Lywydd, having been the Minister that took it through the Assembly, but I do genuinely believe that. And it is very frustrating, I know, for all of us, given the consensus behind the Act, that delivery hasn't been as effective as it should have been and as it must be for the future. We have seen fairly static figures for cycling and walking in Wales, so there is a great deal of work to be done.

It's also very frustrating that resource—considerable resource—has been committed by Welsh Government, but some local authorities in Wales are not understanding the opportunity sufficiently to bring forward the bids that would access that money for their local areas, and bring the improvements that Members have referred to. That's why I very much welcome what Lee Waters has said about looking at that situation, and providing the support and help that will enable those local authorities that are struggling with their own internal capacity to be helped to get their act in order, as it were, and access that money and make those improvements.

We've heard of the great benefits that would arise were that to happen, Dirprwy Lywydd, and that's what makes it so frustrating that we don't see the delivery that should be in place. The school run, for example, was mentioned by Jenny and others. The congestion that arises at school run time, the pollution that that brings, the economic impact from that congestion, the deleterious effects on health that result, the chaos at the school, which is a real safety issue—all of that could be addressed if there was more cycling and walking to school, and we then could be developing those good exercise behaviours in our young children that would stay with them throughout their lives. And Dai Lloyd made the health case very effectively, as ever. We need a public health investment, and active travel could be part of delivering that improvement. 

We also know, of course, Dirprwy Lywydd, that the integrated transport approach that we want to see in Wales relies on active travel, in itself helping to deliver that modal change, but also linking to public transport to help make that change. We do need a change in the behaviour of drivers, and that will come if we see many more people cycling and walking, and 20mph zones in our urban areas could be a part of that change. 

It's an ambitious piece of legislation, Llywydd, but we do have the opportunity to drive that forward, and that's why I very much welcome the consensus that exists within the Assembly and evidenced by Assembly Members today, but particularly the commitment from Lee Waters. I think we're all aware of Lee's history with Sustrans, and we value that commitment and the opportunity that Lee now has with the responsibility that that brings also to work with all of us to make that necessary change.