4. Statement by the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs: Clean Air

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:50 pm on 18 June 2019.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 4:50, 18 June 2019

Thank you. In relation to the 50 mph sites, I think it's fair to say the evidence is mixed. In relation to the Wrexham one, what I said was I don't think people understand why there is a 50 mph site imposed. They think it's because of traffic calming or reducing speed and they wonder why the police aren't enforcing it. I didn't say the police would be enforcing it in relation to carbon emissions. So, what I have said is I would like to continue with the 50 mph sites, the five of them, but there must be signage explaining exactly what the reduction is for because I don't think people understand that. So, certainly the one in Wrexham, which I know the best because it's in my constituency, just says, 'Emissions reduction'. It's just a little sign that says, 'Emissions reduction', which people clearly don't understand. So, I don't think people have been adhering to it because I think there has been a little bit of confusion as to what it's for and because if they think it's because of speed and it's not being enforced, then they don't stick to the 50 mph. Certainly, the evidence that I've seen from across the five sites is mixed, but I think if we have signage saying very clearly that poor air quality kills—and I think that you have to sometimes shock people—then people will adhere to the reduction more willingly.

I think hindsight's a wonderful thing. Certainly, I remember when we were all told to get diesel cars. What I would like to see now is a move to electric vehicles more. Unfortunately, we need the infrastructure to go with it, and we gave £2 million to put more electric vehicle charging points, for instance, in across Wales because we need to make sure that people can get about without the worry of running out of charge and then not being able to find a charging point. I think we need to do a significant amount of work to make sure that we have the infrastructure in place.