Flintshire Council and Welsh Government hold talks on 20mph speed limits

In a move aimed at resolving issues surrounding the implementation of 20mph speed limits, Flintshire Council recently held discussions with Welsh Government Ministers.

The meeting, organised by Carolyn Thomas, Member of the Senedd for North Wales, centred on the exemptions criteria, potentially allowing certain roads to revert to 30mph.

The move towards a default 20mph speed limit in Welsh residential areas has sparked concerns over its impact on main arterial routes and public transport.

The Welsh Government says that Local Councils have the ability to set speed limits as the highway authority. However, while this is the case, councils cannot disregard the Welsh Government’s 20mph criteria. Concerns have been raised about the lack of clarity regarding the exemption criteria as well as council liability.

This has led to disparity across Welsh Councils, with just 0.6% of roads varied back up to 20mph in North Wales, compared to nearly 10% in Swansea.

Twelve sections of road, including Liverpool Road in Buckley, St David’s Park, Ewloe, and Queensferry Roundabout, met the criteria and have reverted back to 30mph.

Across Wales, many local authorities have already varied a significant number of roads back to 30mph where this makes practical sense, including Swansea, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Carmarthenshire.

Powys Council is looking at around 140 exceptions where the new speed limit will be reversed back to 30mph.

Ms Thomas has recently spoken out about the need to mitigate the impact on public transport links in the area as Arriva announced its decision to cut out Llandegla village along the Services 51 and x51, Rhyl to Wrexham, to make up the additional 5 minutes added to the journey time by newly implemented 20mph limits.

The Member of the Senedd hopes the meeting is a positive step towards finding a partnership approach to such issues.

Speaking after the meeting, Carolyn Thomas said: “A positive discussion took place, resolving conflict of interpretation regarding the rollout of the 20mph exemption criteria, with lessons learnt on both sides.”

“I have also attended community meetings and have heard from some local residents their concerns about the new speed limits but have also heard from those who are pleased with the change.”

“I would like to encourage all those with a view to feed into the upcoming consultation regarding which roads should be kept at 20mph where it makes sense to do so, and which roads should be made back up to 30mph.”

Commenting on the meeting today, the First Minister added: “There are different views among the population. That is why the sort of meeting to which Carolyn Thomas referred, between the Welsh Government and the local authority, directly in the same room, sharing experiences and perspectives, will mean that the review is both meaningful, well informed, and will produce outcomes that will be shared between all of the parties.”