In February, the Welsh Government responded to the final report of its Roads Review panel and in the process launched an attack on the car driver.
The Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, Lee Waters MS, revealed that the Welsh Government would be ditching all major road schemes, "placing the climate and ecological emergency at the heart of decision making on future infrastructure spending".
This is a very disappointing decision. I am fully committed to achieving Net Zero as soon as possible but the approach being adopted by the Welsh Government woefully disregards the reality of people’s day to day lives in Wales, and the ability of green technology to decarbonise cars. It also makes too many questionable assumptions for it to be considered a sound decision.
Unilateral economic self-harm is not the answer to the negative impacts of road traffic, including environmental impacts. Rapid technological developments are decarbonising vehicles and continue to improve their safety. This transition sits alongside existing UK Government net zero commitments, such as ending the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.
We need to invest more in rail and cycling initiatives but it is clear that the car is absolutely here to stay. The circumstances of would-be utopian city centres are far removed from the practicalities of North Wales, where future living standards, jobs and prosperity depend on common sense, pragmatic investment in road infrastructure.
It is also of national importance that our strategic routes be up to standard, as recognised by the Union Connectivity Review.
I have called on the Welsh Government to urgently reconsider its approach and resurrect much-needed projects upon which tens of millions of pounds of public money have already been spent.
