Opposition MSs criticise ‘unseen costs’ of new 20MPH speed limit

Opposition MSs have criticised the ‘unseen costs’ of the new 20MPH limit due to come into force shortly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Stuart Cole CBE, the Emeritus Professor of Transport Economics and Policy at University of South Wales wrote this article for Nation discussing implications for the bus industry of the new 20MPH speed limit – with conclusions including favouring an initial rollout of the scheme in big urban areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the article, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for transport, Natasha Asghar MS, has expressed concern for the “unseen costs that Labour’s 20mph blanket project will have on the Welsh Economy”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Commenting Natasha Asghar MS said: “The concerns raised by Professor Stuart Cole highlight even further the lack of thinking the Labour Government has done on this policy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For over a year I have been saying whether its our emergency services reaching incidents slower, people taking longer to get to work, delivery vans taking more time or cuts to bus routes to accommodate the longer time – this ludicrous policy is going to impact every part of everyone’s lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With just three weeks till the default speed limit comes into force, these unseen costs on top of the £4.5 billion from the Labour Government administration does not make for kind reading with the devastating impact this policy will have on the Welsh economy and people from all corners of Wales”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This comes days after a firefighter had warned 20mph speed limit could slow down response times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can read the full Nation article here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​