3. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport: The Welsh Government Response to the South East Wales Transport Commission’s Final Recommendations

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:04 pm on 19 January 2021.

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Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 4:04, 19 January 2021

There are many good actions suggested by Lord Burns that will be actioned by Welsh Government with partners, Deputy Minister. You will know that, for example, the new railway station at Magor has very good community support and buy-in and has been put forward for quite some time. So, I think that is very, very promising, and the new stations at Llanwern and Somerton similarly. I also welcome the proposals for Severn Tunnel Junction, with better co-ordinated transport services and bus access, and also the long-desired link between the M48 and the B4245, which would take a lot of congestion off the roads through the villages of Magor and Undy.

There is a lot that's going to be really valuable, but, obviously, we need to make it happen, and I take the point that was made in terms of have we got sufficient goodwill from UK Government in terms of the main line and the relief lines, and I hope very much that we'll see that forthcoming. But in terms of those matters within our more direct control, bus is obviously very important, and points have been made about the number of people who travel by bus and the early opportunities with bus priority and so on. Could you give very careful consideration, in terms of bus and how we get things moving, Deputy Minister, to a pilot free bus travel scheme in Newport, which I think would have a lot of merit? It would be a very early signal of intention, and I think it would capture the imagination and the support of local people.