Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament
2 min read
Wales: A Manifesto for Walking
Public health. Air pollution Climate change. Transport. These are all big issues in the 2021 Senedd Cymru elections.
Read our manifesto and find out what the new Welsh Government has planned
Our launch event
Programme for Government 2021-2026
The Welsh Government set out what it will focus on over the five years of the current Senedd term in its Programme for Government, announced June 2021.
It's tagline is "We are striving for a more prosperous, equal and greener Wales".
What's on the agenda this Senedd term 2021-2026?
- Make 20mph the default speed limit in residential areas.
- Ban pavement parking wherever possible.
- Work towards our new target of 45% of journeys by sustainable modes by 2040, setting more stretching goals where possible.
- Take forward the Burns Commission report for Newport [i.e. no M4 relief road].
- Introduce a Clean Air Act for Wales.
- Seek a 30% target for working remotely.
- Make our Welsh public transport system more accessible to disabled people.
With changes to the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph and regulations on pavement parking due to be tabled during the first year of term 2021-2022.
Legislative Programme 2021-2022
Each year, the Welsh Government makes a statement on which new legislation it plans to table in the Senedd. The 2021-2022 programme was announced on 6th July 2021.
We were pleased to see the statement respond directly to THREE of our manifesto calls:
- Change the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in built up areas
- Ban pavement parking
- Introduce a Clean Air Act for Wales
For the 2021-2026 Senedd term, we are calling on all politicians to create a Wales where:
People on foot feel relaxed and safe
Investing in street improvements, road space reallocation to walking and cycling, a default 20mph speed limit in urban areas, a ban on pavement parking and more, safer road crossings.
People can breathe clean air
Prioritise the climate emergency, implement a Clean Air Act for Wales, introducing Clean Air Zones around all Welsh schools, delivering anti-idling measures and plan for more urban green spaces and green corridors where people can walk and cycle, contributing towards a goal of net zero carbon emissions in our towns and cities.
Families choose to walk to school and work
Set ambitious targets for children walking to school and for adults choosing active travel at least three times a week. Investment in active travel in Wales should be at least £20 per head. Ensure routes to school and work are safer, cleaner and less congested.
Everyone in Wales should be able to live an active, healthy and easy life without a car. This is not the case in too many places. We want politicians from all parties to commit to creating walkable neighbourhoods and reducing car dependency, tackling loneliness, reducing pollution and getting more people walking.
We can reimagine our cities, towns and villages so we reduce car dominance and everyone can walk or cycle for their everyday journeys. Meaningful improvements in carbon emissions, air quality and road safety will only be achieved with significant shift from car journeys to active forms of travel such as walking and cycling.