Transport

Roads
29 April 2008

Wales, like much of the developed world, has become increasingly dependent on roads and traffic for the movement of people and freight over the last few decades.


The problems of road-building and rising traffic include:

  • rising emissions of climate change gases
  • air pollution which damages health, buildings and crops
  • accidents
  • declining fitness
  • increasing social exclusion - a third of Welsh households do not own or drive a car
  • traffic noise and congestion
  • amenity, countryside and wildlife loss
  • resource use and disposal.

Funding for new roads comes mainly out of the Welsh Assembly's transport budget. So, road-building directly reduces investment in public transport, cycling and walking facilities. These are the very investments that help reduce traffic, road congestion and dependence on the car.

Friends of the Earth Cymru is campaigning against several major road schemes in Wales...more

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Traffic on the M4 motorway

© Ian Homer

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