1. What action is the Welsh Government taking to improve public transport in Aberconwy? OQ57229

I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. The provision of new rail rolling stock and the instigation of new, innovative demand-response Fflecsi bus services are amongst the actions being taken to improve public transport in the Member’s constituency.

Diolch. First Minister, in a climate crisis, we need to be empowering our residents to use public transport. Now, whilst we have seen some progress in reaching rural communities through the Conwy valley Fflecsi bus service as you mentioned, the reality is though that some communities in the Conwy valley are cut off from the coast at night. The last train leaves at 16:07 and the last bus at 18:34, and there are constituents now having to face the dilemma of paying high, costly taxi fees. There's also an even greater chance now that tourists are driving themselves to Snowdonia National Park, and we're all working on initiatives there to try and cut down on the use of private cars, rather using public transport. So, our railway line is one of the best short-term solutions. 

Would you, First Minister, work with Transport for Wales to see if evening services could be scheduled between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, and, also, would you look to amend the north Wales metro programme so to include a direct rail service between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Manchester Airport, that would really go some way to solving some of the public transport issues we have in Aberconwy? Diolch. 

Well, I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd, and for the constructive suggestions that she's put forward. I know that my colleague Lesley Griffiths, as Minister for north Wales, is meeting with Transport for Wales tomorrow on transport issues in the north, and will be able to take up some of the points that the Member has made. The Welsh Government continues, Llywydd, to invest in the north Wales metro—£9.2 million originally secured for this financial year, and a further £9.3 million-worth of funding to local authorities and TfW announced since then. I know that the Member was recently able to attend an event at the Llandudno hub, and that will help to host the Conwy valley community rail partnership, another important development in her constituency.

And, Llywydd, on Friday of last week, I was able to meet the Taoiseach at City Hall here in Cardiff, where we were able to look together at a series of electric recycling collection vehicles, 13 of them destined for Conwy council, not public transport, I know, but public vehicles reducing emissions, as Janet Finch-Saunders suggested. And Transport for Wales has commissioned a 100 per cent zero emissions, electric battery, accessible minibus service, and that will be used for those councils who are part of the Fflecsi scheme, building on some of the ideas that the Member outlined earlier. 

As you know, First Minister, Dolgarrog pipe bridge, connecting the local community to the train station, has been closed to walkers and local users due to significant safety concerns, including the deterioration of the timber deck boards and the need for additional measures to safeguard the water mains supply to over 3,000 homes in north Wales. Thanks to Welsh Government funding, the popular walking route at Dolgarrog in Aberconwy is to reopen with upgraded facilities, which will improve access to the local train station. Please could the First Minister provide an update on this much welcomed improvement being made to the area? Thank you. 

I thank the Member for that. The Welsh Government will provide funding of nearly £0.75 million to fund Conwy County Borough Council's contribution to refurbishing the bridge and to provide for a significant upgrade in its facilities. As we have heard, it is a very popular local amenity and has had to be closed in recent times. Not only will it assist those people who just want to be walking and enjoying the fantastic amenities of that part of Wales, but it will also allow for easier access between the village and its railway station, as well, then, as wider local tourist attractions in the area. So, I'm very pleased indeed to see a solution to the problems that have been experienced there, and very glad that the Welsh Government is able to make our contribution to doing so.