Sustainable Town Status Bid for Pontypridd
October 29, 2007
Rhondda Cynon Taf Councillors have voted to support a notice of motion to nominate Pontypridd as a candidate for the Sustainable Towns Initiative.
In a motion proposed by Graig Councillor, Joyce Cass and seconded by Pontypridd Councillor, Steve Carter, the Council agreed to urge the new Minister for Transport Ieuan Wyn Jones to choose Pontypridd as the Valley’s nomination for the Sustainable Towns Initiative programme.
Cllr Joyce Cass said: “I am pleased the Council unanimously supported this Notice of Motion. The purpose of this Motion is to secure a clear statement from the Council to the new Minister for the Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones, that we would like to see Pontypridd as the town from the South East Region that is included in the Wales wide Sustainable Towns Initiative.
“In his statement to the Assembly, the Minister announced the initiative, which will see a town within each region become exemplars of sustainable transport with an emphasis on better walking and cycling facilities and routes, improvements to public transport and all the other elements which will make the towns a genuine model for sustainable transport.
“This would clearly benefit Pontypridd, would put Rhondda Cynon Taf on the map in terms of sustainability initiatives across Wales, and is in line with the direction that this Council and the Assembly Government are taking in policies regarding transport.
“Obviously, we need a trunk roads network that can accommodate the levels of traffic we have become accustomed to but the real solution lies in making public transport better so that people will use it and leave their cars at home as well as making it possible for people to travel more healthily by walking and cycling.
“We have heard the new Minister talk a good talk in his transport statement – we now wait to see if he will use this opportunity to do something positive for Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf.”
In response to the call on the new Minister at the Full Council Meeting, the Cabinet Member responsible, Cllr Eudine Hanagan, Cabinet Member for Transport replied: “The Cabinet is pleased to support this Motion which asks the Plaid Cymru Minister to select Pontypridd as his choice for the Sustainable Travel Towns initiative. It will be interesting to see his response with this opportunity to do something positive for Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“Following a majority support for the Motion, I have written to the Minister informing him of our collective voice and will be pressing him to invest in Pontypridd and help us make it an exemplar of sustainable travel.
“This is in line with the Council’s transport policies and we have placed great emphasis on promoting and encouraging healthy and more environmentally friendly forms of transport.”
The Cabinet Member for Transport has formally written to the Minister for Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones to convey the decision of local Councillors and firmly put the case for Pontypridd as a sustainable town.
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