POLITICAL NEWS – PLAID CYMRU CALLS FOR CLEAN AIR BILL FOR WALES

Plaid Cymru calls for Clean Air Bill for Wales

Poor air quality causing 2,000 premature deaths in Wales has prompted Plaid AMs to put forward a new law to clean up the air we breathe.

The Clean Air Bill put forward under the Plaid Cymru proposals would:

•  encourage the use of low-emission vehicles
•  ensure a fast charging point infrastructure to encourage people to change to electric vehicles
•  create clean air zones in towns and cities
•  give communities the right to place pollution-monitoring equipment outside of schools and hospitals
•  create an infrastructure to enable local authorities to introduce pollution and congestion charges;
•  set a national and regional plan to reduce air pollution in Wales.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Affairs, Plaid Cymru Mid and West Wales AM Helen Mary Jones said:

“Children exposed to severe air pollution are five times more likely to have poor lung development, and increased infection susceptibility this is why the proposals by Plaid Cymru would give communities the freedom to place pollution monitoring equipment outside of schools and hospitals.

“In briefings by the British Heart Foundation they have indicated that this is not just an issue in big metropolis but there are pockets of dirty air in rural areas as well.”

Llyr Gruffydd, North Wales AM Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Environment added:

“The Labour led Welsh Government has been lethargic when it comes to the issue of air pollution. A Clean Air Bill could have been part of the legislative programme from day one of this Senedd term.

“I recognise the government’s intention to introduce a clean air programme, but one can question why it has taken so long when bad air quality results in 2,000 early deaths in Wales per year. While Labour dither, Plaid Cymru if given the opportunity will seek to legislate at the earliest opportunity.”