The Welsh Labour Government has admitted defeat after setting out a new framework to support councils with its 20mph speed limit scheme following criticism from drivers.
New guidance has been published designed to help local authorities make decisions on the future of 20mph roads across Wales, less than a year after the scheme was first introduced.
From September, highway authorities can start applying the new framework to assess speed limits on roads where a change away from 20mph is considered appropriate.
The framework includes measures to allow highways authorities to submit bids for funding that will allow them to make speed limit changes.
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The new guidance has been met with mixed responses
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Any changes would need to be made in line with the new guidance and will be backed by an additional £5million in funding.
The Welsh Government states that a 20mph speed should remain in areas where pedestrians or cyclists mix “in a frequent and planned manner” with motor vehicles.
It also suggested that 30mph speed limits could be used on strategic roads including those used for freight, larger vehicles and important bus corridors.
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, said he was grateful for the feedback he had received in amending the terms of the 20mph speed limit schemes, adding that it was “great” to see so many people involved.
He said: “The recent collisions data for Wales and the reduction in casualties was encouraging. We have still got a way to go but it shows things are moving in the right direction.
“By working together and supporting highways authorities to make changes where it is right to do so, I believe we can continue to make 20mph a real success story for Wales.”
Similarly, Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and spokesperson on transport, reiterated the calls from Skates to make the scheme a success.
While he acknowledged that there were no easy decisions, there was a “high level of confidence” that any changes back to 30mph would not lead to risks returning to the streets.
Reacting to the new framework, Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Transport Minister, said not enough was being done to protect motorists from the unpopular driving laws.
She added: “Whilst I appreciate that Labour and the Cabinet Secretary appear to be listening to the public on 20mph, it is unclear who will be seeing these changes and how quickly they will be implemented.
“Councils, who are already stretched due to Labour’s budget cuts, will be left to sort out the mess the Labour Government has made of their 20mph policy and I cannot see there being many significant changes as a result.
“£5million is being given to councils in Wales, who have to bid for funding and there does not seem to be a timeline in place which will undoubtedly lead to sheer frustration for drivers from all corners of Wales.”
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Some drivers have taken to defacing 20mph signs to express their fury at the scheme
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The MS for South Wales East reiterated that the Welsh Conservatives would scrap the 20mph policy and roll out a targeted approach in “sensitive areas” such as near schools and hospitals.
The Labour position on banning the development of new roads would also be reversed by the Conservatives, adding that it would “get Wales moving in the right direction”.