Welsh council reviews all its 20mph roads and makes surprising decision

North Wales Live

2 days ago

A Welsh council has reviewed its 20mph roads and made a decision that has divided opinion. Local authorities across the country are currently reviewing 20mph routes.
This follows a change in guidance from Welsh Government on where exception roads - which can stay at 30mph - can be placed. It is expected to see a major increase in exception roads with the hope this will quell some of the dissent against the default limit that was introduced in September 2023.
Ceredigion County Council said it has conducted a comprehensive review of the 20mph speed limits across the county. This saw them receive 62 individual comments. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
They said of these 23 expressed support for the new 20mph limits, 20 expressed desires for a change to the national policy, 16 objected to existing 20mph limits on county roads, while eight referred directly to Welsh Government-managed Trunk Road locations, over which the Council has no jurisdiction.
Ceredigion County Council reviewed 34 sections of road. All of the locations included in the review have been reassessed against the Welsh Government's 30mph exceptions guidance. The outcome of the review is that no further changes were identified, and the 20mph limits introduced on County Roads within Ceredigion in 2023 should remain.
That decision has divided opinion on social media.
One person unhappy at the decision wrote: "Are they trying to end the tourist trade around here? Who's going to choose Ceredigion as a holiday destination when there's a way above average chance of going home with 3 points on your licence? Or attending a 'speed awareness course' that you have to declare on your insurance renewal and your premium skyrockets just the same as if you had the 3 points."
Another added: "Why should we be surprised that this self centred council have again done nothing for the people who live here. Doing nothing equates to 'can't be bothered'. They would rather spend money driving away tourism by building cycle paths on sea front parking!"
But there was also support for the council's stance.
One respondent said: "After many close calls (including kids waiting for a bus), and a death in our village I'm very pleased. People might not do exactly 20, but at least the majority aren't doing the 40-45 that used to be the case."
Another said: "I think the 20mph is giving the villages back to pedestrians and children, people are safer walking around. Why should motorists feel as though they have the priority? Let the kids play out."
Councillor Shelley Childs, Ceredigion's Cabinet Member responsible for Highways and Environmental, said: "The review was an opportunity to assess how closely the guidance from the Welsh Government was applied on county roads in Ceredigion.
"Collision data recently released by the police and the Welsh Government suggests that the national change to the speed limit does seem to be reducing casualties on roads across Wales, and correspondence received during the review process suggests that the new 20mph limits are welcomed by many in the county. Although, the Council's review did not include any speed limit arrangements on the A487 and A44 Trunk Roads in Ceredigion since those are the direct responsibility of the Welsh Government."