(Title Image: Welsh Government, Crown Copyright)
- New transport strategy prioritises decarbonisation and modal shift; deprioritising private road transport.
- Cautious welcome from MSs, but warning that measures will need to have the public fully on board.
- Deputy Minister says the strategy “overturns a 50-year focus on cars”.
Yesterday, the Welsh Government published its new 20-year transport strategy – Llwybr Newydd (“New Path” – pdf).
Some of the specific measures include:
- The long-standing ambition of encouraging people to use their cars less often by making it easier to walk and cycle, with an inclusive approach to design to accommodate the disabled and also encouraging “town centre first” development.
- Setting five-year priorities (such as increased electric vehicle charging capacity) to cut greenhouse gas emissions, all backed by a wider transport decarbonisation plan (about 17% of Wales’ emissions come from transport).
- Continuing to support concessionary fares and demand-led transport solutions (i.e. car-sharing, book-a-bus).
- Encouraging more freight to be carried by rail.
- Private road transport is given the lowest priority, with the strategy clearly stating that “an integrated transport solution” is needed for the Newport M4, while the possibility is raised of road pricing, while work continues on a default 20 mph speed limit.
- Ensuring the Welsh language is treated no less favourably than English on public transport.
In the Senedd, Deputy Minister for Economy & Transport, Lee Waters (Lab, Llanelli), said delivering on the strategy’s aims would be a challenge and would require big behavioural changes by the public. The strategy overturns the 50-year focus on car travel, which prioritised individual freedom at the expense of the environment and wider society.
Shadow Economy Minister, Russell George MS (Con, Montgomery), thought Wales shouldn’t miss the opportunity of a cultural shift, but penalising motorists wasn’t the best way to go about it.
Helen Mary Jones MS (Plaid, Mid & West Wales) though the strategy would have broad support, though warning that the withdrawn Bus Bill would need to be strengthened when it returns to the Senedd to bring about the transformation in public transport the strategy requires.
There were calls for the strategy to be rooted in people’s genuine needs, with several members warning that what works in cities might not necessarily work in towns and rural areas.
Several members wanted to plug their own local transport projects, while there was support from some quarters for the proposals on road charging, which was itself raised at the UK level recently.
The consultation is open until 25th January 2021 – all the details are available here.
