11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Sustainability of Welsh Bus Services - evidence session with bus operators
A final question, and we haven't got much time. So, is there scope in future to improve the sustainability of both learner travel and commercial bus services through joint or more closely joined-up working?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you.
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you. Anybody else got anything to add?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
You briefly mentioned, then, Stephen, some data. Is there enough data already to allow the development, and therefore the monitoring of targets? In other words, if we don’t know what it is, how do we measure it?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Okay. You also say that the national soundscape strategy could include targets relating to reducing overall exposure to noise. Is that something that you'd like to see explicitly provided for in the Bill, and, if you would, are you aware of any existing…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Rosie.
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Right. I'm unmuted now. Going back to the Bill, and you have said that section 22(2), which provides that the national soundscape strategy, and I quote, 'must include policies for assessing and reducing...noise pollution.' You seem to have issues with that…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Well, that's exactly the point I was just going to make. As somebody who wakes up in the morning and is lucky enough that all my neighbours, because I live in a terrace, have got trees, I go out with a cup of tea and listen to the birds, and I list them…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Okay. That's me done.
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Okay, which was my next question, because the Minister has said that that is her intention—to establish an advisory panel on soundscapes—and, obviously, you've just said, Peter, that you're in favour of it. Is everybody else in favour of it?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Okay. Did any of them talk about sharing those resources? You have 22 local authorities—do we need 22 experts, or is it possible that we could share those amongst authorities? Was that expressed?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Thank you, all. You did say in your written evidence that there was concern about local authorities having the necessary experience and also, knowledge to review the soundscape assessment. Do you want to expand on that, please?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
Do you agree with that, Stephen?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 5
I'm going to take you on to the awareness and knowledge part of it. Do you think that, generally speaking, there is sufficient understanding of the term 'soundscape' amongst both the stakeholders and the public? And is there a need, in your opinion, for a…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Thank you. Thank you, all.
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
The final question to Chris, because I meant to ask it earlier on and anyway he’s got his hand up to say something. But we’ve been told that, if you create small zones that you drive the traffic into—. So, you’ve got a hotspot, you create a zone, all that…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Christine, do you have anything to add?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Exactly. But I am coming on now to Living Streets and your views that I know you're dying to express. Here's your opportunity.
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
I'm just going to raise this and then I'll be moving on to the other witnesses. I've driven around Cardiff and other cities without a 20 mph limit; you'd be lucky to make 20 mph at certain times of the day. So, I'd like to see the evidence that backs up the…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
I am going to bring everybody in; I'm just trying to stick with road haulage at the moment, so don't think I'm ignoring you, Josh. Also, you mentioned that there could be a knock-on effect to the drivers' hours and the cost that goes with that. Is there…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Thank you for all of that, and, yes, we would be interested in you sending us anything that you feel will help us make the right decision. So, in terms of all that you've said, and as a committee making a recommendation, because that's what we will do, in a…
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Yes, or is it that it might be—? Either/or—which is it? Or both?
11 May 2023 , Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill - evidence session 4
Good morning, all. I'm going to go on to the trunk road charging schemes, and whether you agree that Ministers should have expanded powers to create charging schemes for trunk roads, or this particular purpose of tackling air pollution. Now, I know that there…
10 May 2023 , Plenary
Short Debate: Are salmon facing extinction from the rivers of Wales?
Thank you, Huw, for tabling this very important and timely debate. Salmon do face an uphill battle in more ways than one. The Welsh Government has just announced £11 million to curb wildlife decline, including the Atlantic wild salmon, as you say, and I'm…
10 May 2023 , Plenary
Debate on the Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee Report—'Annual report on the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales—2022-23'
I welcome this report, and I actually really do welcome the long-term thinking, because what we build or don't build today, how we construct things, actually will impact on those people who come behind us, picking up on the comment that was made that we might…
