All new road building projects in Wales are to be shelved

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

It seems that the Welsh Government is to shelve all new road building projects while its new climate change ministry conducts a wide-ranging review. (see https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/new-road-building-projects-wales-20871435)

According to Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales:

An over-reliance on the car has led to increased noise, poorer air quality, time wasted in traffic and an unacceptable burden on communities living near our most congested roads, often in areas where fewer people drive a car.

As we move away from building new roads, Welsh Government has to work quickly to improve alternatives - listening to communities and making it easier for more people to make public transport and active travel their first choice.

We’re seeing a shift away from the car - driving licenses in younger people have decreased over the past 25 years - but there’s work to be done to make public transport and active travel a viable option for everyone.

We need an affordable, integrated, reliable, efficient and low carbon public transport network, that’s connected to things like healthcare, in rural areas especially, and housing, with safe and easy access to walking and cycling.

Sophie Howe is described as one of the top 100 businesswomen in Wales, and also as the "World's first minister of the Unborn".

[Bmblbzzz]

Presumably "minister of the unborn" is another way of saying "minister of the long-term future" or at least "minister with responsibility beyond the electoral cycle"?

[Clan Line]

If they are not going to build any more new roads - where will they be able to "kick the can" ?

[ellendune]

You have to remember that all decisions of the Welsh government and Welsh local authorities and other Welsh public bodies have to take account of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

An explanation can be found here

The Well-being of Future Generations Act gives us the ambition, permission and legal obligation to improve our social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being.

The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

The Act is unique to Wales attracting interest from countries across the world as it offers a huge opportunity to make a long-lasting, positive change to current and future generations.

[broadgage]

Splendid news.
I would hope for similar policies elsewhere in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

[broadgage]

Presumably "minister of the unborn" is another way of saying "minister of the long-term future" or at least "minister with responsibility beyond the electoral cycle"?

As depicted in fiction, before it became fact. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future

[Bmblbzzz]

Sophie Howe was appointed in 2016, four years before the publication of that book
https://www.futuregenerations.wales/team/sophie-howe/
But regardless, that looks as if it might be an interesting read. Thanks for bringing it to our attention here!

[Rhydgaled]

Splendid news.
I would hope for similar policies elsewhere in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

Indeed it is splendid news, or it would be if the headline was true. Sadly the reality is that most projects have not been 'shelved'. Instead, there is supposedly a pause on projects that are not yet under construction while road-building is reviewed (which, hopefully, will lead to many projects being shelved but that's not guaranteed - if the review panel ends up being formed of the same people who have perpetuated car-culture for years then the projects will probably end up being unpaused).

Even then, there are cases worthy of the 'smoke and mirrors' board where work is proceeding on projects that are not yet under construction. Public inquiries and scheme development studies appear to be continuing for some projects. On another project (or two, there are two schemes which were developed seperately but they are continuous and a single construction contractor has been appointed for both) I have been told that actual construction activities are not scheduled to commence before September, but this is apparently counted as 'under construction' and not subject to the pause.

[CyclingSid]

Rail is not the main focus of this item.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64640215

All major road building projects in Wales are scrapped.

There is a bit of me that thinks this is good, another bit worries that I have not seen any obvious connection to active and sustainable transport alternatives (please point out if I have missed them). Is it a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or have we got the stage where we have to do something a bit radical?

[ChrisB]

Read on - not quite scrapped - 15 still ongoing, but new tighter rules have been implemented that will prevent most if not all.

[Bmblbzzz]

All major road building projects in Wales are scrapped

All major road building projects in Wales have been scrapped over environmental concerns.

Plans for a third Menai bridge will not go ahead and neither will the controversial Red Route in Flintshire.

The move is part of the Welsh government's National Transport Plan and follows a year-long review.

Environmental campaigners called it "world-leading and brave" but some in the construction industry warned the announcement could put jobs at risk.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64640215

[eightonedee]

Read on further (from Wales on Line)-

Of the 59 schemes identified by the panel, 46 made it to this final decision stage (as eight were 'out of scope' or had insufficient information, two were reviewed early, and three were 'economic development schemes'). This is the breakdown of what happened to all 59 (scroll down for a rundown of what's happening to each individual project):

15 will be 'progressing,' meaning they are included in the NDTP, although some will be revised
2 were 'replaced by new projects,' but won't go ahead in the form that was proposed.
15 were 'superseded by new programmes,' effectively meaning they won't go ahead.
9 won't be progressing 'at this stage,' but could be reconsidered in future funding rounds.
15 have been classified as 'local authority schemes,' meaning local authorities can apply for grant funding in the future.
3 have been classed as 'economic development schemes' but the panel didn't specifically decide on them.

Hmm......

[Noggin]

Guess we'll find out what the electorate think at the next election

[Richard Fairhurst]

There is a bit of me that thinks this is good, another bit worries that I have not seen any obvious connection to active and sustainable transport alternatives (please point out if I have missed them). Is it a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut, or have we got the stage where we have to do something a bit radical?

The deputy minister for climate change quoted in the article is Lee Waters - who was formerly Wales director for Sustrans. He's very good and, I think, fully signed up to the active/sustainable transport agenda.

[Bmblbzzz]

Does there have to be an obvious connection to active/sustainable transport? Isn't it as much as about induced demand?