The original Llanharan bypass proposal was a road, or actually a series of roads connected by roundabouts, enabling the phased opening up of a strategic site, connecting new homes and medical facilities and a new school with the existing community of old Llanharan along the main spinal route from the western point of the A473 beyond Llanharan, and allowing access and egress in the direction of Talbot Green, Llantrisant. However, during the many long years—I’ve been involved in all of them—of developing this proposal, changes in policy here in Wales and internationally have reflected major changes in our knowledge and evidence of the effects of road building. People may have different views of this, of course, but the evidence—regardless of views or opinions—is very clear and is rightly changing the way that farsighted Governments respond in policy terms.

Here are some of those major changes. The climate crisis: we either believe there is a climate crisis or we do not. I do. All political parties in this Senedd have signed up to this on paper; indeed, the Welsh Government was the first Government in the United Kingdom to declare a climate crisis—rightly—and was followed in very short order by Scotland and then England. This means that for the sake of our children and our grandchildren—even if not for ourselves—we need to think radically differently about the way we live and we work and we travel and much more.

We are also unique amongst the countries of the United Kingdom in having a statutory responsibility to consider not just this generation but future generations. The dead end of relentless road building that we’ve just heard about. For many generations, we’ve accepted the conventional 'wisdom’ that we can build our way out of traffic congestion. When roads fill, we build another lane, two lanes, a bypass, a relief road, and another and another, and yet the evidence against this is now compelling and unarguable. On the principle and practice of induced demand, we see that, when another lane or another bypass is built, the traffic relentlessly expands to fill it. New roads designed primarily for individual vehicle transport, as opposed to public transport, do not reduce congestion and air pollution, they increase it. Eventually, communities find themselves surrounded by ever-expanding tarmac.

Air pollution, the silent killer. Air pollution from increased traffic comes not only from exhaust emissions; the combination of exhaust emissions from combustion engines and particulates impairs respiratory health and shortens average lifespans. In short, for the climate, but also for health and longer lives, we need to rethink the relentless growth in individual vehicles and the roads to accommodate this growth. It is killing people and shortening their lives. 

A better transport policy has many advantages. The evidence has grown internationally that when transport policy is focused on high investment in better public transport—road, rail and tram—and also where short journeys are done by active travel—cycling, walking, et cetera—then quality of life is improved, health outcomes and mortality are enhanced, communities feel safer, quality of life for people in those communities is better, and there are added but very logical bonuses, such as the development of local shops and services, the so-called 15-minute neighbourhoods. And there are many more arguments, based on clear and compelling arguments, that back the Welsh Government's radical—for the UK, but not worldwide—changes in policy on transport and travel. 

But the roads review is only one part of this. The comprehensive transport policy is set out in 'Llwybr Newydd: the Wales transport strategy 2021'; there are transformative bus transport proposals in 'One network, one timetable, one ticket'; there's ongoing work in the metro proposals for the Cardiff city region, south-west Wales and for north Wales; and there's record investment, despite what we just heard, in active travel in Wales, too. But, Minister, it is the timing and the funding gap between the realisation of these ambitions for public transport and active travel and modal shift and the announcement of the roads review that is our greatest danger. 'Mind the gap' is something we should be aware of in policy, delivery and funding terms, not only when we board the train.

I've written to you, Minister, already, asking for an urgent meeting, along with RCT leader, Andrew Morgan, and Chris Elmore MP and local Members. I believe that we can develop a new proposal for the Llanilid site that takes unnecessary traffic and journeys off the local road network, joins up the missing sections, including for active travel and bus routes to Talbot Green and Llantrisant, and creates more liveable communities and a better quality of life for local people. But, Minister, this will require your direct help—on buses and trains, on demand management, on active travel, on behavioural change, and delivering real improvements right now on the overly congested A473 through the old town. Llanharan and Llanilid could be an exemplar town in Wales for better communities and modal shift if you are willing to work with us and directly help us. We cannot do this on our own, so I invite you, Minister, to come out and meet with us in Llanharan, see the challenges we face first hand, and then help us make the changes we need to make Llanharan better for local residents and businesses and a model community for modal shift and better ways to create well-rounded, healthy and sustainable communities. Diolch yn fawr iawn.