Councils asked to “draw up a list of roads” that could become exempt from 20mph speed limit

Councils across Wales will have the chance to ‘draw up a list of roads” that they believe should revert back to 30mph.

It comes after Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS confirmed that he has met with local authority leaders to agree a review of the controversial 20mph speed limit.

The default speed limit, which was introduced on 30mph roads in September 2023, has only recently started being enforced by police.

Motorists found exceeding the limit will have the choice between receiving a fine with points on their license or participating in a roadside education session to learn about the new rules

However the introduction of the default speed limit has not been without its problems.

A petition calling for the 20mph limit to be revoked has gained over 468,000 signatures since September 2023.

New 20mph speed signs have been damaged and defaced in the last five months.

There has also been questions of the large amount spent on promotion and communication of the speed limit – and whether councils were aware they could issue more exemptions.

In Wrexham just 10 roads have been made exempt from the 20mph limit. This is in contrast to more than 150 in Swansea and 85 in Gwynedd.

A letter posted on X by Lee Waters, deputy minister for climate change, explained that a panel had been appointed to oversee the review and that an interim report will be provided next month.

He added that “if you feel your street should go back to 30mph you can let them (local councils) know why.”

The letter states: “Further to our meeting this afternoon I promised to write to you, setting out progress on the review of the implementation of the 20mph speed limit.

“The Welsh Government has appointed a small team to work with local authorities to consider the way the policy has been implemented and how the exceptions guidance has been applied.

“The review team includes Professor Peter Jones, Professor of Transport and Sustainable Development at University College London. Professor Jones has had no involvement in the 20mph implementation and will provide independent challenge to the process.

“The other two members of the panel are Kaarina Ruta, Transport Advisor at the WLGA and Phil Jones, the Chair of the 20mph Task Force Group, that made the initial recommendations.

“The team will work with Welsh Government officials, local authority officers and other experts and partners (“the review group”).

A series of preparatory meetings have already been held to:-

– Gain an understanding of the application of the guidance in different parts of Wales
– Reflect on that application and consider whether clarifications to the guidance are needed to encourage greater consistency across Wales
– Look at the approach taken to roads on the threshold between 20mph and 30mph
– Share initial findings with local authority officers

“The team will review the outcomes form this preparatory work alongside other evidence.

“They will prepare draft conclusions and initial recommendations for consideration by the review group and then for submission to the Welsh Government for publication in February 2024.

“The review team will then engage with local authority cabinet members and other key stakeholders, as well as representatives of industries affected by the speed limit changes, including bus operators and regional bus service planning teams.

“The team, together with the Welsh Government, will offer support to local authorities where they are keen to rapidly consider changes to roads where the decision between a 20mph and 30mph speed limit is less clear cut.

“The review team will prepare a final report, accompanied by draft updated guidance on setting the speed limits in settlements affected by the 20mph default speed limit and exceptions, building on implementation experience to date and make recommendations on how this could be applied to communities on road which currently have higher speed limits.

“Updates to the guidance could include, for example, taking into account the impact on bus routes and local communities.”

The report and updated guidance will then be submitted to the Welsh Government by the summer recess.