03 Feb 2023

Travelling by public transport, walking and cycling is becoming easier in South East Wales with continued progress towards a cleaner, greener, better-connected region.

Details of the work undertaken by The Burns Delivery Unit have been released in its latest annual report today (Friday 3 February).

In the last year, progress by The Burns Delivery Unit has included awarding Welsh Government active travel grants to Cardiff and Newport local authorities. The funds have enabled Wales’s first two secure cycle storage hubs, The Bike Lock in Cardiff and Spokesafe in Newport.

Large infrastructure project work includes investigating developments to the A48 option and the National Cycling route, the NCN88. This is coupled with planning works for improvements to Newport City Centre and Old Green Roundabout. Rail improvements are also in planning for the South Wales mainline.

The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for Transport, Lee Waters said: “This is a very promising report that shows real progress.

“We are all focused on making the right thing to do the easy thing to do and that means encouraging more people out of their cars to walk, cycle, or use public transport.

“I have been fortunate enough to visit some of the projects highlighted in today’s report and have seen first-hand how they provide genuine alternatives to using their cars.

“This is exactly the type of progress we need to see as we head towards a stronger, greener, fairer Wales.”

“The Burns Delivery Unit is set up to ensure the recommendations of Lord Burns and the South East Wales Transport Commission become a reality,” said Simon Gibson CBE, Chair, Burns Delivery Unit.  

“We are planning for significant improvements to ensure that people have the option to safely walk, cycle and use reliable public transport as part of their everyday lives, to tackle congestion and pollution in the area.”  

Senior Project Manager, Gareth Potter said: “The annual report is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements that the partnership has made so far. The Welsh Government, Local Authorities of Newport, Monmouthshire and Cardiff alongside Transport for Wales remain committed to the vision and working together for a better future.”

For more information about the work of South East Wales Transport Commission and The Burns Delivery Unit, here https://tfw.wales/projects/burns-delivery-unit