The Welsh Conservatives have reiterated their criticism for Labour and Plaid Cymru’s active travel agenda as a waste of money. A Review of the Active Travel Act in Wales has once again revealed that “there has not been a significant increase in levels of active travel” this follows a previous report from Audit Wales that also showed this policy is not working. This is in spite of Labour and Plaid Cymru, spending approximately £218 million on "active travel" projects between 2018 and 2024 and since then, allocating a staggering £65m+ in ‘Active Travel’ grants for local authorities in 2024-25 and in September 2025, a further allocation of nearly £50 million for 2025–26.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, said:
“This latest review confirms what many people across Wales already know, Labour and Plaid Cymru’s active travel strategy is a huge waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Despite spending vast sums of public money, there has been no significant increase in active travel, an extraordinary level of investment for so little measurable return.
“Labour, propped up by Plaid Cymru, cannot keep pouring hundreds of millions into a scheme that is not working. We need a more practical, value-for-money approach that actually works for communities.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
- Review of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013
