Council confirms no 20mph speed limit changes after public consultation
Twm Owen, local democracy reporter
A consultation that prompted 1,500 responses and suggested 143 roads be returned to a 30 mile per hour limit will result in no changes.
Speed limits across Wales have been open to review since last summer when the Welsh Government opened what it called a “national listening exercise” on the 20mph limit in built up areas introduced in September 2023.
Monmouthshire County Council, which last month said “several roads” could be reviewed, has now confirmed it has no plans to restore the higher 30mph limit.
The council said: “The council’s request for feedback generated 1,496 responses from residents. The feedback highlighted 143 roads where some residents felt that returning to the 30mph speed limit would be more appropriate.”
Reassessment
The council said after analysing the responses it selected four roads for reassessment; the B4245 through Magor, Undy, Rogiet, and Caldicot; Hereford Road, Abergavenny; A4143, Abergavenny; and A4077 Abergavenny Road and Cae Meldon, Gilwern.
But it said: “The council has concluded that no further changes are required, and all roads currently set at 20mph should remain.”
It said it reassessed the roads against the Welsh Government’s updated 30mph guidance, which reiterates the importance of providing a safe environment for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, taking into account also the movement function and road characteristics.
Abergavenny and the Severnside area where among the seven areas where the 20mph limit had been piloted and the council had already restored the 30mph limit on the B4245 and Caldicot Road.
The Labour council’s cabinet member for the environment Councillor Catrin Maby thanked those who responded to the consultation and said: “The council’s top priority is the safety of all our residents and visitors. The reassessment concluded that all roads changed to a 20mph speed limit will remain at that limit.”
Comments
The authority also said it should be noted comments related to the general policy or trunk roads were not considered, as these are matters for the Welsh Government.
Monmouthshire council also said it had rereviewed each road with local councillors before the 20mph policy came into force in September 2023, in line with the original exception guidance which allowed councils to maintain a higher speed limit when 20mph became the default.
Road safety campaigners have hailed the policy, and statistics have shown a reduction in accidents and deaths since its introduction, but the “national listening programme” was launched following changes at the top of the Welsh Government early last year and constant public criticism.
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Praise to Monmouthshire on two grounds – for having an early pilot to assess the impact and now, for evaluating and coming firmly down in favour of safety. I only wish Wrexham were doing the same
I suspect that the difference is simply how well the local authorities did their initial homework. If Mon did it right the first time then there’s no need to change it. I’m not speaking from experience but I feel like the new default limit has gone down worse in N Wales, which possibly indicates it was initially implemented poorly in some of those areas and needs some corrections as a result. However I do agree that safety of people outside of cars should come above saving a few seconds per journey for people in cars and denounce in the strongest… Read more »
Why is 25mph not considered as a compromise?
As far as I know, 25mph does not exist as a speed limit in the UK, we only work in multiples of 10. Maybe we should, but at the moment we don’t. The City of London is considering a 15mph limit so maybe that will open the door to multiples of 5.
The figures show it works, why would they go back, Drakeford will save many lives
But the counter-argument to me is this: why not 10 mph, or 15 mph? Some would say they’re too slow, yet they would save even more lives. Every speed would cost lives, but you have to choose, draw a line in the sand. For me, it’s 30.
So you think100 people’s lives are worth sacrificing so you can arrive a tiny bit earlier? That is one breathtaking display of arrogant entitlement.
Da iawn Monmouthshire for sticking to it. 20mph has transformed walking and cycling around my local area, huge win.
Welsh democracy in action and as advised by public consultation of the people who use those roads and live there. If you didn’t know Council consultations were just for show and wasting more of our money you do now. No Compromise. No change. Their way or the highway but thanks for chipping in your incorrect thoughts pesky council tax payers. 🙄
The remedy is clear. Vote them out on the local and “national” levels.
Indeed you display an astonishing sense of entitlement to kill.
I’m yet to witness the herds of cyclists roaming the plains of Monmouthshire, but thanks to the council for thinking of them on the motorists behalf.
So how many deaths are acceptable to you? 100 people have been saved, but you think they should have died so you can drive your brum brum faster. Wow. Just wow.
Totally agree with Monmouthshire. Pedestrians and cyclists need protection from drivers trying to shave seconds off their journey. Hopefully Carmarthenshire will make the same decision.
Cyclists could do with putting their own house in order too. Many seem to feel the rules of the road don’t apply to them.
Show me a motorist that was killed because they were close passed by a cyclist and you can talk about cyclists “putting their house in order” 😂
Never mind, you can always mow them down. Seen many cyclists mow cars down?
Totally 100 percent 🤘 speed kills…it’s not rocket science.
Why have 20mph speed limit if you cant get prosecuted until driving at 26 mph that dont make sence to me.