Welsh Government’s failure to turn spending pledges into reality poses some very serious questions about their commitments to tackle climate change, according to Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth, who raised concerns about the delays in investing £2m the Party of Wales secured towards Welsh Government developing a network of publicly owned Electric Vehicle charge points.

Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth has been vocal in making his support known for encouraging an electric vehicle revolution, raising questions in the National Assembly calling for more investment in EV infrastructure, and campaigning for Welsh Government to act in a manner that shows they’re taking this new technology seriously.

The £2m towards the development of a ULEV charging network was secured by Plaid Cymru in 2017 as part of a budget deal with the Labour Welsh Government, but to this day just half of that money has been spent and the Plaid Cymru AM raised his concerns with Welsh Government this week.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“Welsh Government is at a very early stage indeed in terms of the investment that should be happening on a wide scale in terms of a charging network for electric vehicles. In our budget agreement two years ago, Welsh Government agreed to a Plaid Cymru request to invest £2 million in a national charging network.

“I have to say that it’s been a cause of great frustration for me, having succeeded in reaching that agreement, to see these delays in spending the money. Two million pounds wasn’t much as it was, but it was very important to have that funding in place in order to give this sector a boost.

“Spending only half of that throughout the whole of Wales on public charging points in two years is proof of the Government’s failure in turning spending pledges into reality.

“If that’s their attitude towards the charging network, doesn’t that pose some very grave questions about the pledges made more broadly now in terms of tackling climate change and the willingness and ability of Government to turn those plans into reality?”