- 20/05/2020
- Posted by: Lesley Griffiths MS
- Category: News
The Welsh Labour Government is offering local authorities the opportunity to improve walking and cycling routes in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Councils are being encouraged to put forward ideas and projects that could boost active travel networks and Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, has written to Wrexham Council encouraging them to take advantage.
Coronavirus has affected all aspects of everyday life and Wales’ transport network is no different. Bus and train services have been scaled back and after coronavirus restrictions have eased, there is an expectation the public’s willingness to use public transport may waver. The Welsh Government believes that as a result, more people may choose to travel by car.
The Welsh Government is seeking expressions of interest from local authorities across Wales to introduce measures to ensure the safety and reliability of sustainable transport modes during and following the Covid 19 crisis.
Any temporary measures should be developed and implemented immediately and ultimately aim to reduce the impact and reliance on car journeys. There is a desire for the measures to be initiated from early summer and if effective, projects could be introduced on a permanent basis.
Lesley Griffiths MS has written to the Leader of Wrexham Council on the matter and said: “Local authorities are required by law to encourage walking and cycling and the coronavirus pandemic has offered an unexpected opportunity to promote active ways of travelling.”
“Under lockdown, increasing numbers of residents have walked or cycled around Wrexham and constituents have highlighted to me areas of the town where the additional amount of people on existing footpaths and thoroughfares has sometimes made it difficult to adhere to social distancing.”
“With these measures likely to be observed for some time, I believe this is the ideal opportunity to improve some of the active travel routes across the region and I have encouraged Wrexham Council to submit their proposals to Welsh Government.”
