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A landmark law requiring Welsh councils to create walking and cycling networks to increase has been passed by Assembly Members.

The Active Travel (Wales) Act will require local authorities to draw up networks, new design standards for routes and require annual debates and reports in the Senedd to make sure progress has been made.

It would also require councils to take account of pedestrians and cyclists when they make improvements to, or redesign, public highways.

But the legislation has drawn concerns that its effectiveness will be limited by a lack of commitment to direct funding for councils to implement any plans, with cycling charity Sustrans previously saying Wales would need to treble its currently funding, per head, to be aligned with a recent scheme announced for 10 English cities.

But the Welsh Government insisted that £12m was already available for funding such routes.

Culture and Sport Minister John Griffiths, who has responsibility for walking and cycling policy, said in a debate at the National Assembly last night that the legislation had brought Wales to the attention of cyclists across the world and would improve health and wellbeing, as well as environmental benefits.

Speaking before the debate Delyth Lloyd, policy and advocacy manager for British Heart Foundation Cymru, said: “This Act will help make cycling and walking to work and school even easier and is an important step towards helping people in Wales get more active.

“It’s welcome legislation because too many of us are risking our health by not getting enough physical activity. It’s a fantastic way to protect against heart disease and building activity into our everyday lives can make the world of difference.”

Jane Lorimer, national director of transport charity Sustrans Cymru, said: “This truly is a landmark day for Wales – where legislation is now set to meet many of the recommendations set out in the Get Britain Cycling report, which saw cross-party support at Westminster.

“The First Minister must be commended for personally promoting this legislation and the impact it could have for Wales. We hope other parts of the United Kingdom will now cast their eyes to Wales and look at what this world-first Act could achieve.”

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Plaid Cymru’s spokesman on transport, said: “Making cycling and walking the most desirable form of short journeys would have a major impact on the health of the population, and on reducing congestion.

“However, it is important that local authorities are adequately funded by the Welsh Government to deliver the new routes and infrastructure that will be needed. There has been a debate recently about the amount of funding invested in walking and cycling in countries such as the Netherlands, and those kind of levels would produce huge future savings in the health budget.

“Passing the bill is important but it now needs to be integrated into the National Transport Plan so that there is an ongoing commitment to invest in the routes and infrastructure, and to integrate cycling in particular with the rest of public transport.”

Eluned Parrott, Welsh Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman, said: “The Active Travel Bill offers great potential to steer us towards a healthier and more environmentally friendly Wales and I have been delighted to see the way in which the Bill has evolved during its passage through the Assembly.

“I am particularly pleased that the Minister agreed to take forward my calls for further measures on education and promotion of active travel. We have an opportunity here to change the culture of Wales and become the kind of society where walking and cycling to school or work are seen as the rule and not the exception. The original Bill was too focussed on mapping and technical requirements and forgot that we also need to encourage people to change their behaviour.

“A battle for hearts and minds doesn’t start with a map, it starts with a vision; we need to communicate that vision to the people of Wales.”