3. Statement by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change: The Roads Review and National Transport Delivery Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 14 February 2023.

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Photo of Janet Finch-Saunders Janet Finch-Saunders Conservative 3:22, 14 February 2023

I would like to say that the one thing I would say about you, Minister, Lee, is that your heart is in this, and it has been for quite some time, and no-one is denying that we need more active travel. But I think the point that Alun Davies, my colleague, has made is the fact that you get your infrastructure in place, then you can decide not to do what we've always done and keep building roads. But I am going to have another moan about my two roundabouts on the A55, because part of the reason is about the environment and climate change, and also about air pollution. Really, I would ask you now today to review the options on those two roundabouts.

I'm also told that the Holyhead free port could be under threat if those roundabouts are not removed, because there are no roundabouts from Hull to Holyhead in that way, and those roundabouts do cause congestion now for my residents, where, when you did go to consultation, £9 million—and it was proven that those roundabouts should be taken out. They were scrapped before even this roads review. All I would say is that you've seen the keen interest. We've all got issues in terms of our own constituencies. As a shadow Minister for climate change and environment, we've been taking extensive evidence on our public transport system, and it does not make good reading for anybody or for the Welsh Government. You need to get that infrastructure in place. People are not going to get out of their cars and get on to buses that don't exist, or get on trains that are unreliable, sometimes very dirty and are often cancelled. I would just ask you, Minister: can we have a full debate on this? 

Dirprwy Lywydd, you've been really, really good letting all of us have our little say today. I was excited for this roads review and the plan, and today, my bubble has been burst, because we've not been able to really scrutinise it. So, please step up to the mark. Let's have a good debate next week on it, a Government-brought debate. Cheers. Thank you.