During Stage 2 of The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill, Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru voted against the Welsh Conservative amendment by Janet Finch-Saunders MS that would have removed the section on trunk road charging schemes in the Bill.
Should the Committee have supported Janet’s amendment, they would have stopped the Welsh Government from widening Welsh Ministers’ powers in relation to road charging.
Commenting on road charging, Janet said:
“Every single local authority in Wales has at least 30% of people in transport poverty. It is completely out of order that Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru are bringing forward measures that will make people poorer.
“We need to cut down our reliance on cars, and walk and cycle and use public transport where we can. But for some people, cars are their only option.
“With bus services being cut and isolating communities, it is absolutely barmy that the nationalists and socialists are willing to allow the Welsh Government more power to introduce road charging.”
Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Minister for Transport, added:
“We campaigned tirelessly to scrap the charges on the severn crossing, and firmly oppose the attempt by Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru to give the Welsh Government more power to introduce charging schemes.
“Yet again, the Deputy Minister is out of touch with and ignoring the public. The Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee’s public survey found that 92% of respondents disagreed with Welsh Ministers having wider powers to introduce trunk road charging schemes!
“The Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru war on motorists must stop”.
ENDS
Yn ystod Cyfnod 2 Bil yr Amgylchedd (Ansawdd Aer a Seinweddau) (Cymru), pleidleisiodd Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru yn erbyn diwygiad y Ceidwadwyr Cymreig gan Janet Finch-Saunders AS a fyddai wedi dileu'r adran ar gynlluniau codi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr cefnffyrdd yn y Bil.
Pe bai'r Pwyllgor wedi cefnogi diwygiad Janet, byddent wedi atal Llywodraeth Cymru rhag lledu pwerau Gweinidogion Cymru mewn perthynas â chodi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd.
Gan gyfeirio at godi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd, dywedodd Janet:
"Mae gan bob awdurdod lleol yng Nghymru o leiaf 30% o bobl mewn tlodi trafnidiaeth. Mae'n gwbl warthus bod Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru yn cyflwyno mesurau a fydd yn gwneud pobl yn dlotach.
"Mae angen i ni leihau ein dibyniaeth ar geir, a cherdded a beicio a defnyddio trafnidiaeth gyhoeddus lle bo modd. Ond i rai, ceir yw eu hunig opsiwn.
"Gyda gwasanaethau bws yn cael eu cwtogi ac ynysu cymunedau, mae'n hollol hurt bod y cenedlaetholwyr a'r sosialwyr yn fodlon caniatáu mwy o rym i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno codi tâl ar y ffyrdd."
Ychwanegodd Natasha Asghar AS, Gweinidog Trafnidiaeth yr Wrthblaid:
"Fe wnaethon ni ymgyrchu'n ddiflino i gael gwared ar y taliadau ar groesfan Hafren, ac rydyn ni’n gwrthwynebu'n gryf yr ymgais gan Lafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru i roi mwy o bŵer i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno cynlluniau codi tâl.
"Unwaith eto, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog allan o gysylltiad â'r cyhoedd ac yn eu hanwybyddu. Canfu arolwg cyhoeddus y Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, Amgylchedd a Seilwaith fod 92% o'r ymatebwyr yn anghytuno bod gan Weinidogion Cymru bwerau ehangach i gyflwyno cynlluniau codi tâl ar ddefnyddwyr cefnffyrdd!
"Rhaid i ryfel Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru ar fodurwyr ddod i ben".
DIWEDD
