Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
I have appointed Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies as the Chair of the Active Travel Board. He commenced this role on 1 September 2020.
The Active Travel Board was set up in 2014 to advise Welsh Government on the implementation of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 and active travel policy more widely and co-ordinate action among partner organisations. Since taking on responsibility for active travel as part of my portfolio, I have been chairing the board.
I now want to strengthen the function of the board by establishing an independent chair, which was one of the recommendations from the Economy and Transport Committee’s post legislative scrutiny of the Active Travel Act in 2018.
Dr Dafydd Trystan Davies has been an effective champion of active travel. He has previously served as an advisory board member of Sustrans in Wales and a director of Cycle Training Wales. In his capacity as chair of governors of Ysgol Hamadryad in Cardiff, he has been involved in the development of one of the most radical school travel plans in the country. He is also a board member of Sport Wales and chair of Run Wales, which aims to get more people involved in running.
The appointment will be for 2 years. His priorities will be to sharpen the challenge function of the Active Travel Board towards policies and their implementation. I will expect Dafydd to: help deepen member organisations’ understanding and commitment to their own role in increasing levels of active travel in Wales; enhance co-operation and exchange between members on an on-going basis. He will also oversee progress with actions from the Active Travel Action Plan, including advising on stretching targets and identify gaps with a view to refresh the Plan in 2021 and devise a strategy for Wales
Dafydd will sit alongside Active Travel Commissioners across the UK, in challenging and supporting the Government on active travel.
I wish Dafydd well in this role and look forward to receiving his regular updates and advice on behalf of the Active Travel Board.
This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.