During a scrutiny meeting of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, the Member of the Senedd for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, raised the issue of pavement parking and pressed the Cabinet Secretary on whether they had U-turned on their intention to bring this forward.
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, commented:
“We’ve had people repeatedly say we shouldn’t have blanket 20 and 30 mph speed limits. We have to learn from that and recognise that a blanket ban on pavement parking will not benefit every single community.
“Instead of a blanket ban, we should, like the UK Government, look at how we can empower and enable greater enforcement to take place at a local level, empowering local councils to enforce unnecessary obstruction of pavements.
When Janet, directly asked the Cabinet Secretary if they have U turned they responded:
“Yeah, it is based on UK legislation, and it is based on a sensible approach that puts the communities first, and ensures that decisions taken on the street will have the input of people who live on that street.”
Following this, Janet commented:
“This is a clear U-turn from the Welsh Government. Under Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Government’s legislative programme repeatedly announced that, along with the 20mph speed limit change, they would introduce a ban on pavement parking where possible.
“Clear access to our pavements is essential for parents pushing pushchairs, people in wheelchairs, and pedestrians. I call on the Cabinet Secretary to reconsider this decision.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
Yn ystod cyfarfod craffu o'r Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith, cododd yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders AS, y mater o barcio ar balmentydd a phwysodd ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet gan ofyn a oedden nhw wedi newid eu bwriad i gyflwyno hyn.
Meddai Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Drafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, Ken Skates AS:
"Rydyn ni wedi cael pobl dro ar ôl tro yn dweud na ddylen ni gael terfynau cyflymder o 20 a 30 mya. Mae'n rhaid i ni ddysgu o hynny a chydnabod na fydd gwaharddiad cyffredinol ar barcio ar balmentydd o fudd i bob cymuned.
"Yn hytrach na gwaharddiad cyffredinol, dylem edrych ar sut y gallwn rymuso a galluogi mwy o orfodi i ddigwydd ar lefel leol, gan rymuso cynghorau lleol i orfodi yn achos rhwystrau diangen ar balmentydd.
Pan ofynnodd Janet yn uniongyrchol i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet a ydyn nhw wedi gwneud tro pedol, cawsom yr ymateb:
"Ydy, mae'n seiliedig ar ddeddfwriaeth y DU, ac mae'n seiliedig ar ddull synhwyrol sy'n rhoi cymunedau yn gyntaf, ac sy’n sicrhau y bydd penderfyniadau a wneir ar y stryd yn cael mewnbwn gan y bobl sy'n byw ar y stryd honno."
Yn dilyn hyn, dywedodd Janet:
"Dyma dro pedol clir gan Lywodraeth Cymru. O dan Mark Drakeford, cyhoeddodd rhaglen ddeddfwriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru dro ar ôl tro, law yn llaw â'r newid i'r terfyn cyflymder o 20mya, y byddent yn cyflwyno gwaharddiad ar barcio at balmentydd lle bo hynny’n bosibl.
"Mae mynediad clir i'n palmentydd yn hanfodol i rieni sy'n defnyddio cadeiriau gwthio, pobl mewn cadeiriau olwyn, a cherddwyr. Rwy'n galw ar Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet i ailystyried y penderfyniad hwn."
DIWEDD
Llun: Janet Finch-Saunders AS
