The process of returning some Welsh roads from a 20mph default speed limit to 30mph will commence in September, according to Ken Skates, the new transport secretary. During a message urging residents to contact local councils about where they think 20mph restrictions should be targeted, Skates did reveal that the cost of the return will be footed by the Welsh government instead of the local authorities. Skates was also unable to specify how many roads would revert back to 30mph, as he indicated that it would be determined by the council. Despite Skates’ announcement, the Welsh Conservatives remain sceptical and insist that nothing has changed.
To date, Plaid Cymru has endorsed the idea of broad 20mph zones, but stated that “no one can deny that there have been widespread problems with its implementation from day one”. Skates informed members of the Senedd of his top priorities, revealing that 20mph is still perceived as the correct speed limit in places including play areas, schools, residential areas and close to community centres, clinics and nurseries. He added that he was going to refine the policy to ensure that people’s voices were heard, and the appropriate speeds were applied to the relevant roads.
According to Skates, over the next few months, the Welsh government will work with the councils via revised guidelines, listening to which routes the public would like to see revert. The process of returning the 30mph limit to certain routes will start in September, but the transport secretary refused to identify the exact number of roads that would change, insisting that this would be up to the local authorities to decide the routes and how many they felt should revert to 30mph.
Skates confirmed during his speech to the Welsh Parliament that the Welsh government would still be initiating highway schemes, with construction going ahead for the A494 River Dee crossing and improvements to the Mold Road into Wrexham. He noted they had accepted the recommendations of the North Wales Transport Commission that would improve traffic control around the Menai Bridge in Anglesey. Further proposals that accommodate the need to decrease carbon emissions will proceed, he said
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