Calls for more cooperation over 20mph speed limit exemptions
The Welsh Government is being urged to work with local authorities to review whether additional roads should be exempt from the 20mph speed limit.
Llyr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales in the Senedd, said it is particularly important to do so in areas such as Wrexham where the current number of exemptions is extremely low.
Mr Gruffydd said Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government need to work together as the policy beds in to make sure its implementation is “pragmatic and proportionate”.
The Plaid Cymru politician pointed out that Wrexham only currently has 10 exemptions compared to over 150 in Swansea, while Plaid Cymru-run Gwynedd council has put 85 in place.
He has also called on the Welsh Government to press ahead with reviewing the impact of the new default 20mph restrictions throughout Wales, as well as the guidelines that Local Authorities have been told to follow.
This follows a Plaid Cymru proposal that was recently passed in the Senedd which demanded ministers regularly conduct the reviews.
Empowered
Mr Gruffydd argued that Local Authorities need to be empowered to make further exemptions in areas that make sense.
He said: “I think most people would support the 20mph speed limit in principle if there had been a more meticulous approach to which areas we’re exempted.
“The policy will take some time to properly bed in, but work needs to start soon to review whether more roads should be exempted in Wrexham. It only has 10 at the moment. This contrasts starkly with other parts of Wales where the number is much higher.
“Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government need to work together to make sure that the implementation of the policy is done in a pragmatic and proportionate way.
“It has been shown in other parts of Wales that this is possible. Gwynedd Council, which is run by a Plaid Cymru administration has been able to secure 85 exemptions. There are over 150 exemptions in Swansea.
“The Welsh Government need to actively demonstrate they are listening to people, and the best way they can do that is by working to make sure that additional exemptions are put in place in the areas where it makes sense.
“The Labour Welsh Government needs to act swiftly on the Plaid Cymru amendment that was passed by the Senedd. To do that it needs to give Local Authorities the tools and resources they need to conduct their reviews.
“I support the principle of introducing lower limits where they’re needed. My priority is to save lives on our roads each year and minimise accidents and injuries. The policy was adopted in Spain a few years ago and the evidence shows that it does make a real difference.
“There is also evidence that shows that the policy will save the NHS in Wales £92m every year whilst also freeing up ambulances and other emergency services at a time when they’re already overstretched.”
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WCBC left a swastika painted on the side of a public building for over six months. I complained about it many times, in the end, someone who wasn’t working for the council painted over it. Since 2018 I have had problems with the kitchen and bathroom that were installed. in 2023 the original problems remain and have compounded, thus creating new issues. This year I have had two “Annual Visits” from WCBC, during those visits the exact same problems I have been asking them about since late 2018 (when the problems “sorted out” at the start of the year returned),… Read more »
I think this qualifies as a rant but, does anyone understand it?
What this demonstrates is that the excuse ‘it was in our manifesto so people voted for it’ can’t be used anymore.
If Senedd members who voted for it didn’t understand how it was going to be implemented in practice then how can anyone claim that the voting public should have known.
What is needed now is a pragmatic , sensible approach to exempt roads which are causing problems, something that should have been addressed before the policy hit the streets in the first place
The local council was supposed to do that, Wrexham could not be arsed and did the minimum. Their consultation was done at the very last minute for as short a period as possible because they knew that their position was not really tenable. Drive over to Gwynedd or on the Trunk Road network for a feel for how it should have been implemented.
Wrexham Council are useless and you could almost believe that the way they implemented 20mph was to sabotage it, but then look at the state of maintenance in Wrexham and you can only conclude that it is incompetence, ie white lines worn and never renewed, potholes not filled correctly – ashpalt thrown in not rolled or sealed, signs unreadable as overgrown with vegatation, gullys not cleared. This has not arisen in last year or two it is a 20 year problem.
Carmarthenshire County Council are no better as they seem to have made very little effort either.
Never vote Labour its that easy 60 years old I am and in all that time Labour have always waisted our money and they definitely don’t listen to ordinary people. It’s about time people power came back. After all we are the bosses mps and councils needyo start learning there there to do our will!!! Why do we let idiots tell us how to live our life’s!!! Just look after the roads hospitals and infrastructure
aah because the Cons never waste a penny and have been in power the last 13 years and of course have fully funded Wales to deal with roads and hospitals and everything is wonderful the other side of Offa’s Dyke? Fraudulent Covid Loans £5 billion, VIP PPE fast track 115 contracts awarded to 51 “VIP lane” suppliers. The contracts were worth £3.8bn, 46 did not go through the due diligence process. HS2 cancelled to provide a shuttle service from Birmingham to Old Oak Common (where?) £68 billion and rising etc etc. I am sure the liberal democrats, SNP and Plaid… Read more »