Alyn and Deeside residents lead Wales in record-breaking anti-20mph Senedd petition signatures
More people from the Alyn and Deeside constituency have signed a Senedd petition calling for the reversal of new 20mph speed limits in Wales than from any other Senedd constituency.
The petition is the most signed in the history of the Welsh Parliament and at the time of writing had hit over 263,000 signatories.
On Sunday (17 September) Wales became the first in the UK to introduce a default 20mph speed limit on most residential roads, transitioning from the current 30mph.
The Welsh Government says research shows that changes will reduce pollution and fatal crashes.
Analysis of the petition data reveals that as of 9.30am, 10,355 individuals, either residing in Alyn and Deeside or using a local postcode related to the constituency, have endorsed the petition— the highest number in Wales
Vale of Glamorgan trailing a close second, recording 9,356 signatories, 8,600 signatories hail from the Delyn constituency, ranking it fourth in Wales.
Breaking down the data percentage-wise, North East Wales stands out.
Delyn witnesses 12.55% of its electorate supporting the petition, closely followed by Wrexham at 12.32% and Alyn and Deeside at 12.22%.
Montgomershire, on the other hand, shows a modest turnout with a mere 3.29% of its electorate, translating to just over 2,000 signatures.
The petition’s reach isn’t confined to Wales. An intriguing observation is the global traction it has gained.
Over 9,400 supporters claim to be from England, 388 from Scotland, and 23 from the USA have added their names.
Signatories hail from countries as diverse as Vanuatu, Vatican City, Oman, Burkina Faso, Antigua and Barbuda, and Afghanistan, with representation from a total of 52 countries.
However, it’s important to note that due to the simplicity of the petition website’s data entry process, individuals can claim residency in any country without verification.
During First Minister’s Questions in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday, Mark Drakeford was asked whether his government would rescind the 20mph default speed limit for Wales, given the strength of public sentiment.
Conservative MS Tom Giffard highlighted personal stories from his constituents, highlighting an audiologist who lamented the impact of the speed limit on his work, describing increased journey times, higher fuel consumption, and concerns over possible prosecution and license points.
In addition to this, the healthcare sector might experience disruptions. Home care nurses have expressed their frustrations, citing a lack of allocated travel time between appointments, making it challenging to attend to all their patients.
Gifford said: “People across the country won’t be able to receive the services that they rely on thanks to your Government’s actions. So, will you commit, as the petition asks you to and rescind your disastrous 20 mph scheme?”
Drakeford stood firm on the Welsh government’s stance, he simply replied, “no”.
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