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Over the next few weeks, parliamentarians in Westminster and Cardiff Bay will be scrutinising the UK and Welsh Government budgets.
This budget round represents a closing chapter. This is the last UK budget of this round of the Comprehensive Spending Review, and the final year of Welsh Labour’s two-year budget deal with Plaid Cymru in the Assembly. This time next year, the UK will have likely left the European Union, and in Wales, a new First Minister will be preparing for their first budget with an eye to the forthcoming 2021 elections.
Throughout November 2018, Sustrans Cymru Budget series will be delving into the detail from an active travel perspective.
We’ll be looking at the pressures facing local authorities in both urban and rural Wales, and we’ll be assessing the different needs of different generations. We will also be outlining how future transport funding should be restructured if the Welsh Government is to meet its ambitions under the Active Travel Act.
Kicking off today with Part 1, Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion County Council, highlights the investment needed to make active travel an option in a rural authority.
Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion County Council“Even in predominantly rural areas such as Ceredigion, walking, cycling, car sharing and public transport can, and do, provide beneficial alternatives to the car, or the second and third car, which has a positive impact on a number of fronts that can include increasing disposable household incomes.
“A number of factors including increased health awareness and cycling successes at a local and national level have no doubt inspired and influenced the uptake in both leisure and competitive cycling in Ceredigion. Ceredigion is ideally placed and is developing as a host venue for various major cycling events by making use of its attractive natural assets which are ideal for on and off-road cycling. These provide opportunities for local residents and visitors alike to participate and watch high-quality cycling in a variety of disciplines.
"Ceredigion Council are dedicated to achieving a greater modal shift from the car to the bike for utility journeys, but this will not be possible without further capital investment and improvement, alongside increased revenue funding. This is what is required to create the infrastructure which enables people to leave their car at home. People need safer routes and facilities including storage and showers at key journey generators in the county.
"Further work and ongoing investment is also required in coordinating and promoting the various benefits of cycling as a viable alternative to the car on a regular, occasional, ad hoc if not permanent basis. This would lead to the bike becoming, and being seen as, a realistic, safe and attractive year-round alternative to the car for short to medium distance everyday journeys including those for commuting, work, learning, shopping and socialising. Further promotion and ongoing investment in public transport infrastructure, services and facilities will ensure that there is a choice of attractive all year round alternatives to the car”.
Don’t miss the next in the three-part series:
Sustrans Cymru budget: Investing in active travel part 2: Huw Thomas, Leader of Cardiff Council Sustrans Cymru budget: Investing in active travel part 3: Steve Brooks, National Director Sustrans Cymrufrom News https://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/sustrans-cymru-budget-investing-active-travel-part-1-councillor-ellen-ap-gwynn
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