5. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: Active Travel

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:08 pm on 14 May 2019.

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Photo of Lee Waters Lee Waters Labour 5:08, 14 May 2019

Thank you for those questions, and, again, can I echo my comments about the dynamic role that he's playing as chair of the cross-party group? Because I think it does bring together not only people from different parties, because this is a cross-party agenda, but it brings the local authority people, along with the local campaigners, all in one room, where there is a will to make change happen. And I'm very keen to continue engaging with that group and to attend every meeting, if I'm able to.

In terms of the skills point, I think regional working is essential in this area. This is one area where it's going to be needs-led, and also, as Transport for Wales starts to develop its remit, I think there is a real role there for that central expertise to be held, so that local authorities can set the priorities, they can make the decisions on where the routes are, but then they can call on Transport for Wales to provide that expertise they're not able to carry themselves locally.

On the consultation element, that community engagement work, we will fund separately this time round to see how that works, and I think it'll be interesting to see if that does bring us a different result from the one that was brought last time. So, we need to keep that under review.

In terms of schools, then, we do have the active journeys programme that we've been funding and that Sustrans have been delivering. We're going to be putting out to tender a larger contract based on the same approach over the summer. But there is a role for local leadership as well, and it's not just for the Welsh Government and local authorities to lead this; individual schools need to do their bit as well, because all schools struggle with parking and drop-offs in the morning. It's a consistent problem in every school I visit in my constituency. And I sympathise with headteachers for the range of pressures they face as it is, but this is one that'll have immediate benefits for them if they're able to engage with it, and there are all sorts of tools available to help them.

In terms of the specific point of is the funding available to allow local authorities to take a more innovative approach, then, yes, it is. There is flexibility within the funding we've announced. If local authorities want to bring forward proposals for a more imaginative approach, they will find a sympathetic ear.