
23 June 2021
RMT Press Office:
RMT calls on UK to learn lessons of Welsh Government decision to prioritise public transport over new roads.
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today welcomed the news that the Welsh Government will be suspending all future road building plans and will instead be prioritising public transport and active travel to meet their statutory target of net zero emissions by 2050.
This move is in stark contrast to the Westminster Government which has effectively ringfenced its new roads budget of over £14 billion instead of developing the necessary investment to expand rail and bus services to meet the climate change challenge.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said:
“This is welcome news by the Welsh Government and is something that the UK Government should be learning lessons from.
“Transport accounts for around 34% of UK CO2 emissions and it beggars belief that, in the year that the UK hosts vital climate change talks at COP26, the Westminster Government is ploughing ahead with a massive road building programme whilst not making the radical investment needed in public transport to reduce emissions.
“What we need to see is a once in a generation huge investment in our public transport to both radically reduce emissions in the fight against climate change and provide a massive economic boost as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.”