Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:50 pm on 20 November 2019.
Well, as it happens, I have before me the two relevant reports: the one on the south-east Wales study of the Rhondda tunnel and, of course, the one that refers to the scoping study for the national cycle network using railway tunnels. The Abernant tunnel would provide a cross-Valley link between Aberdare and Merthyr; the Rhondda tunnel between the Afan and Rhondda Valleys; the Pennar tunnel between Pontllanfraith and Newbridge; and there are possibilities with the Usk tunnel, which is a disused railway line that would avoid a busy road.
What I've done is to ask Sustrans to lead partnership work, which we have partly funded, to explore the potential for bringing key tunnels back into use. I'm very excited by what has happened in Bath and the two tunnels scheme, which also in that case involves an aqueduct. The study will build on the work that Welsh Government did in 2015 and the work that local authorities have done on the active travel network. The Sustrans study will invite key stakeholders, including the Rhondda Tunnel Society, to be involved in the partnership to take this forward.
I believe opening tunnels up to further public use, especially for cycling, hiking, walking and other activities—although obviously not motorised transport, and not the return of trains, or at least not yet—should be part of the function of the tourism department.