Motoring organisations and campaign groups have welcomed the Welsh Government’s plans to review the operation of its controversial 20mph default speed limit.
Revised guidance on which local roads can be exempted will be published in July, with councils expected to start detailed consultation on any changes they plan to make from September.
In a speech to the Senedd on Tuesday outlining his transport priorities, Ken Skates (pictured), the devolved administration’s cabinet secretary for transport, said the Welsh Government will work with local authorities ‘to prepare the ground for changes’.
Mr Skates said: ‘Ultimately, the degree of change in each of our 22 local authority areas will not be determined by me and the Welsh Government, but by the public and by councils as the highway authority for most residential roads.’
Rhian Nowell-Phillips, Welsh roads and climate campaigner at Transport Action Network Cymru, said: ‘We welcome the clarification that the Welsh Government remains committed to its flagship policy of 20mph. This is a groundbreaking piece of legislation which is already having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of communities in Wales.
‘Despite some of the speculation preceding today’s statement, the Welsh Government had already instigated a review of the guidance to local authorities.’
She added: ‘The cabinet secretary wants the right speed on the right roads and we look forward to working with him and the Welsh Government to ensure this happens.
‘It is important that the voices of communities already seeing the health and safety benefits for all ages are not lost in this review process.’
RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said that while the decision would please many drivers in Wales, ‘it’s a shame so many roads that should have always remained at 30mph were unnecessarily converted.
‘More public money now needs to be spent changing signs back at time when funds are already stretched.’
He added: ‘We are very supportive of 20mph limits being implemented in places where there’s a greater presence of pedestrians and cyclists as they are proven to reduce road casualties, but when used on roads that are clearly better suited to 30mph, there’s a risk drivers don’t obey the limit and their effectiveness is undermined.’
