The Deputy Minister for Climate Change, , has
today announced the Chair and Panel that will be carrying out
the Welsh Government’s Roads Review and confirmed the road
schemes that will be considered as part of the review.
The Panel consisting of climate change and transport
specialists from across the UK, will be led by Dr Lynn Sloman
MBE, a transport consultant based in Wales who has previously
been part of the Commission.
The panel will consist of:
- Julie Hunt - A Chartered Civil Engineer and Chair of the
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (Wales).
- Professor Glenn Lyons - University of the West of
England, specialising in Future Mobility.
- Geoff Ogden - Director of Planning, Development and
Advisory Services at Transport for Wales.
- John Parkin - Professor of Transport Engineering and
Deputy Director of the Centre for Transport and Society at
the University of the West of England.
- Professor Andrew Potter - Cardiff Business School expert
in freight, logistics and operations management.
- Helen Pye - Head of engagement at Snowdonia National Park
Authority with involvement in traffic and parking management.
- Eurgain Powell - Transport specialist with the Office of
the Future Generations Commissioner.
In light of the climate change emergency, the panel will be
asked to consider whether new roads are the right solutions
for transport problems, or whether there are alternative
sustainable modes of transport that would work better.
The Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters said:
“Transport generates around 17% of all our emissions, so
must play its part if we are to reach our target of net
zero emissions by 2050.
“We need to move away from spending money on projects that
encourage more people to drive, and redirect this money on
maintaining our existing roads and investing in real
alternatives.
“We recognise that these decisions throw up tensions, but
we have to confront that if we’re going to make a real
difference. We’re not saying this is the end of road
construction in Wales, but the panel of experts that I have
announced today will ensure that this is no longer the
default response to a transport problem.
“Instead money saved by not building new roads will be used
to improve existing infrastructure, helping to create new
bus and cycle lanes that give people a meaningful
alternative choice for travel.”
Dr Lynn Sloman, Panel Chair said:
"The Panel will bring a wealth of experience and diversity
of perspectives to this Review. The climate emergency makes
it imperative that we avoid any investment that increases
carbon emissions, especially in the next 15 years when most
cars on the road will still be petrol and diesel vehicles.
But we also need to understand the problems that road
schemes have been designed to address – whether safety, air
quality or unreliability – and consider how those problems
can be tackled without increasing carbon.”
The Panel will provide its final report next summer.
