Wales behind England on green transport

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Jun 2008

Official Government transport statistics released today show that Wales is behind the rest of the UK in the move away from cars to greener public transport. More people are using cars and less people are using buses in Wales than in England.

In 2006 81% of people in Wales travelling to work did so by car, van or minibus this compares to 70 % in England and 69% in Scotland. The statistics find that the volume of motor vehicle traffic on all roads in Wales increased by 6% between 2002 and 2006, with England increasing by 4%. During the same period the number of local bus passenger journeys in Wales increased by 4% compared to 10% in England.

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Transport, commented: "These figures demonstrate that whilst the Labour Government in Wales has long paid lip service to the green transport agenda this has not translated into action to change people's behaviour and move Wales towards more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

"Figures for the 2007/08 Assembly Government spending on Transport show that 49% of this budget went on roads whilst a meagre 13% went towards buses and 4% on Integrating local transport, walking and cycling. This is clearly not spending that promotes effective and efficient public and sustainable methods of travel put rather helps to push people into their cars. Welsh citizens continue to use their cars because, particularly in rural areas, they do not have accessible alternative modes of travel.

"The new Plaid Minister for Transport is continuing the Labour Government's trend to invest in roads rather than in public transport. We have in recent months seen bus services particularly missing out on much needed funding. The essential Bus Service Operators' Grant (BSOG) has not been increased in line with fuel duty as has been done in England and now the Transport Services Grant has been delayed by several months - all of which is putting pressure on bus operators and local authorities to drop marginal services.

"This comes at a time when the Assembly Government proclaims to be investing in an all Wales integrated transport network. Now is the time for WAG to put their money where their mouth is and make the long-term investment in public transport that is so clearly needed."

Notes:

The number of licensed road vehicles in Wales increased by 13 per cent between 2002 and 2006. There were increases of 8 per cent and 11 per cent in England and Scotland respectively.

It is estimated that on average during 2005-06, people in Wales travelled further than people in England or Scotland. In Wales 71 per cent of trips in 2005-06 were by car or van compared to 64 per cent in England and 62 per cent in Scotland.