Welsh Gov announces spending changes for Travel and Active Travel

Wales is investing £800 million into new rolling stock, with an additional £1 billion to be invested into the transformation of the core Valleys lines. The money will only be invested in lines still owned by the Welsh Government. Sadly, the move is being financed in part via cuts to active travel.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales announced the new policy Travel For All that the Welsh government will be introducing. Skates is introducing the legislation due to the poor access many constituents have had to travel during his tenure.

Employment, education and vital public services are being limited due to the transportation services in the area, according to the Cabinet Secretary. The new investment will enable people to board trains independently without having to book assistance in advance for the first time. This will allow people to roam freely.

Skates opened: “People and communities across Wales use our transport system every day: to see friends and family, to get to work, to access healthcare, education and leisure activities. The ability to travel is something a lot of us take for granted: driving a car, catching a train or bus, calling a taxi, or taking a walk or cycling—overall, a pretty uneventful part of the day.”

Level boarding on trains, blue parking badges, fares and access to toilets were all focuses on his address. This was also reflected by the House of Commons’ Transport Select Committee’s ‘Acess denied’ report. The report found 90% of disabled respondents had access barriers or challenges restricting or limiting their ability to travel.

The speech mainly focused on travel accessibility, but did address some aspects of active travel. However, the news has not been well received by all.

Gwenda Owen, Wales advocacy lead at Cycling UK, said: “While we understand the tough budget decisions the Welsh Government faces, it’s a clear oversight to cut the active travel budget by £20 million, especially when cycling and walking offers such a significant return on investment. For every £1 invested in cycling and walking, nearly £6 of returns are generated through improved health, reduced congestion and lower emissions.

“What is positive is the Welsh Government’s renewed focus to tackle issues like poor lighting, cluttered streets and unsafe crossings, which are great steps in the right direction. But we must ensure these improvements serve everyone—particularly disabled people who cycle, low-income communities and women, something we’ve been vocal about in our recent campaign, ‘My ride. Our right.’ Well-designed, safe infrastructure is key to making active travel accessible for all, and we’ll continue working with the Welsh Government to ensure Wales retains its ambition to lead the way on active travel.”

Welsh authorities have ringfenced £45 million for local authorities to spend on walking, wheeling and cycling with £15 million being allocated to core funding. Up to 60% of local funding has been ordered to be spent on ‘tangible improvements’ for instant impact. This includes fixing potholes and widening footways.