Cabinet Secretary praises Flintshire Council’s 20mph speed limit consultations

Flintshire County Council has become the first local authority in Wales to begin consulting on roads where speed limits could revert from 20mph to 30mph.

The move follows a summer of public feedback and updated Welsh Government guidance aimed at ensuring speed limits are tailored to the needs of individual roads.

The council received over 1,000 requests from residents to reconsider specific roads, which are now being reviewed against the revised criteria.

The consultation process begins with two roads in Flintshire: the A5026 in Lloc and part of the A548 Bagillt/Mostyn Road.

Weekly announcements will introduce additional roads under consideration for changes, continuing into January 2025.

Each proposal will be accompanied by a statutory 21-day public consultation, during which residents can submit formal objections or express support.

Councillor Glyn Banks, Flintshire’s Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation, highlighted the council’s commitment to balancing community concerns with safety. He stated:

“We have listened to the feedback from the local community, and over the coming months, there will be a number of roads advertised for a speed limit change. Where we are proposing a change, we will publish a statutory Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which will offer residents and those impacted an opportunity to comment or object before a final decision is made.

“The safety of all road users is paramount, and therefore not all roads requested by residents meet the criteria for a 30mph speed limit in the Welsh Government’s latest guidance.”

Cabinet Secretary

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, welcomed Flintshire County Council for taking the lead in reviewing speed limits:

“I’m pleased to see councils listening to people’s views and making progress in reviewing the roads in their areas that they deem could possibly be safely changed back to 30mph. Flintshire County Council is the first local authority to start the statutory process to make changes at a local level, and more local authorities will follow in the coming weeks.

“We know there is a consensus that 20mph is the right speed on many of our roads near schools, hospitals, play areas, and built-up areas. We have listened and empowered local communities to make decisions, so we have the right speeds on the right roads to make 20mph a success story for Wales.”

Community Input

The council’s decision to reconsider some 20mph zones follows a summer of extensive public engagement, during which residents submitted over 1,000 suggestions for road adjustments.

Feedback was evaluated against the Welsh Government’s updated speed limit guidance, which aims to ensure appropriate speed limits for individual road contexts.

While many roads were flagged for review, Councillor Banks clarified that not all requests met the new criteria. “We cannot act on any comments related to the overall 20mph policy,” he explained, “as this is a matter for the Welsh Government.”

Each proposed change must follow the legal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process, requiring formal advertisement and a public consultation period of 21 days.

Residents will be able to provide feedback through the council’s online portal or via written submissions.

Flintshire County Council is also keen to avoid overlap with the Christmas holidays to ensure residents have sufficient time to engage.

Consultations for remaining roads will resume in January 2025.

Public Access to Information

The TRO process for the first two roads—A5026 in Lloc and the A548 Bagillt/Mostyn Road—has begun as of November 8, with details available on the council’s website.

Residents are encouraged to participate and provide input.

“This is about creating safe and sensible speed limits,” Councillor Banks reiterated. “We want to ensure the right speed limits are applied to the right roads.”

The consultation process reflects a step forward in tailoring Wales’s 20mph policy, which was designed to enhance safety in areas like school zones and residential streets.

However, Ken Skates acknowledged the need for adjustments:

“The introduction of 20mph has always been about improving safety and quality of life in our communities. By refining the policy based on public feedback, we are ensuring its long-term success while listening to the voices of local residents and road users.”