Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy spoke in the chamber yesterday, highlighting the misplaced priorities of the Active Travel Scheme.
During questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Janet explained that the £218 million spent over the last 6 years on Active Travel has been wasted on cycle routes that have seen no discernible increase in use since 2018.
This comes as students return for the new school year, with many facing unsafe walking routes due to a lack of pavements, poor lighting, and dangerous blind corners.
Commenting on this Janet said:
“It seems a complete waste of taxpayers money. Many of these expensive Active Travel routes have been built but are not seeing any increase in usage.
“Since 2018, the figure for people cycling at least once a month has fluctuated between 8% and 10%, showing absolutely no discernible upward trend, and in that time Welsh Government have managed to spend an eye watering £218m.
“However, we have school children across Aberconwy who are unable to safely walk to school, a staple of school life.
“Ysgol Bodafon on the outskirts of Llandudno doesn’t even have a pavement to the school for children to safely navigate the tight road. The road up to Ysbyty Ifan’s primary school is again dangerous with no safe pedestrian access, as is the route to Ysgol Pencae, Penmaenmawr.
“I have therefore asked the Cabinet Secretary to look at how funding is allocated and for him to give more consideration to routes that might not immediately seem like they need attention.”
ENDS
