18/07/11
More sustainable transport centres set for Wales
Wales’ Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant, today (Monday, 18 July)) announced that sustainable transport is to get a considerable boost across Wales by confirming that sustainable travel centres will be allocated £6million over the next year.
The sustainable travel centres deliver a range of measures that encourage people to consider using alternatives to the car – such as walking, cycling and public transport.
Following the success of the first sustainable travel centre in Cardiff - with its free cycle hire, improved public transport and new walking and cycling routes - a further four centres have been developed across Wales in Mon a Menai, Aberystwyth, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen.
Roz Robinson, Acting Executive Director of Cynnal Cymru - Sustain Wales, said:
“Sustainable Development is the central organising principle of Welsh Government and this announcement shows that commitment in action - it will enable people to live more sustainable lives. Joined-up thinking between the targets on emissions and progressive policy is essential. Giving people the tools to be able to help them live their daily lives more sustainably is key and the new travel centres should do that.
“The work commute is often the major journey people make so empowering employers through the Personalised Travel Planning interventions is a wise move.
“Similar schemes in other countries have seen a reduction in car journeys. Cutting car journeys by 10% will be a good start and we will work with government and the people of Wales to continue to build on such reductions in the future.”
Duncan McCombie, Director of Operations, Energy Saving Trust Wales said:
“The announcement from the Minister is a welcome step towards providing not just the encouragement but the support for people in Wales to make greener transport choices. Often the main barrier to travelling sustainably is a lack of viable alternatives to the car. The new travel centres will hopefully give people in the pilot areas real options in getting from A to B. Through our consumer transport and fleet advice programmes we’ve found that there is often the will in Wales for change, but individuals and organisations really benefit from support to give them the impetus to change habits.”
