9th Apr 2008

Greens Call on Plaid to Come Clean on True Policies and Stop Hiding Behind Green

Wales Green Party today call on Plaid Cymru to come clean on their true policies and stop hiding behind 'green wash' with the launch of their local election manifesto.

Over the past year Plaid Cymru have instigated a number of policies which have shattered any illusions of environmental responsibility that they once may have had. Ieuan Wyn Jones has made a number of policy flip flops or supported policies which will lead to emissions increase of greenhouse gases.

• Ieuan Wyn Jones gave his official support to the new six lane Gwent Levels M4 motorway road during his first Ministerial speech despite all the evidence of the damage the proposed new road will cause - a policy 'u' turn for Plaid. Traffic levels are growing faster in Wales than anyother part of the UK with growth of over 20% expected on major trunk roads and motorways in Wales over the next 7 years. The building of the new M4 will provide the road space for this growth in traffic to occur in Cardiff and South East Wales and impact on the ability to reduce the Wales' greenhouse gas emissions.More than 25% of the CO2 emissions come from transport and 13% of this is from cars. The M4 Relief would cut across several important wildlife conservation areas including the Gwent Levels (Sites of Special Scientific Interest). The Gwent Levels are a nationally important site which is Wales' largest coastal floodplain grassland site and amongst the best four sites of its type in the UK. Funding for the new motorway is likely to be well over budget at around £1 Billion starving more sustainable transport solutions such as the reintroduction of trams in Cardiff or completing the city's cycle network.

• Plaid Cymru's decision not to pass on to bus companies the fuel duty rebate was a retrograde decision. The duty has been paid to bus companies in England while in Wales the failure of the Assembly to pay the bill will mean, for some bus passengers, the third increase in just over a year at a time when we should be encouraging people to use buses rather than cars.

• Ieuan Wyn Jones has expressed support for nuclear power on Ynys Mon was clearly a vote grabbing exercise during the last elections and ran against his own parties policies which seemed to be a move against more nuclear power - yet another example of flip flopping on policy decisions. Plaid Cymru have yet to say how they would treat/store the nuclear waste originating from a nuclear power station on Ynys Mon.

• Plaid Cymru has support the expansion of air flights in Wales giving government subsides of some £800,000 to the service between Ynys Mon and Cardiff. This when most analysts say that we should be cutting back on flights for environmental reasons and when there is a good rail service taking four hours between the centre of Cardiff and Bangor.

• Plaid Cymru has expressed support for the St Athans military academy. The military base funded privately is likely to not only provide training for the British army but also foreign governments and private security organisations.

John Matthews, Deputy Speaker Wales Green Party, said "It was hoped that Plaid entering Government at the Assembly would bring fresh thinking in Wales however their record to date shows that this has not been the case. Plaid would appear to be trying to green wash people with rhetoric while continuing to implement a range of environmentally damaging policies and have failed to challenge Welsh Labour's discredited policies. Ieuan Wyn Jones' support for the new six lane Gwent Levels M4 motorway , subsidised air flights, higher bus fares, and indecision over nuclear power shows Plaids confusion over the policies needed to tackle the challenges Wales faces in particular in relation to cutting green house gas emissions and securing a clean and renewable energy supply for the future.' He continued "Wales is one of only three Government's world wide which must promote sustainable development as part of its statutory duty - Plaids actions over the last year call into question its commitment to sustainable development."

ENDS

For more information contact John Matthews on 07973938168