Welsh council makes surprising decision after reviewing all of its 20mph roads

Wales Online

a day ago

Welsh council makes surprising decision after reviewing all of its 20mph roads
The decision has divided opinion
A Welsh council's decision on the default 20mph speed limit has left the community divided
(Image: John Myers )
A Welsh council's decision to maintain 20mph speed limits on certain roads has sparked a heated debate. Councils across Wales are currently reassessing their 20mph zones, following new guidance from the Welsh Government regarding where 30mph exception roads can be located.
This is expected to lead to a significant increase in exception roads, in the hopes of easing some of the opposition to the default limit introduced in September 2023. Ceredigion County Council has carried out an extensive review of the 20mph speed limits throughout the county, receiving 62 individual comments.
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Of these, 23 were in favour of the new 20mph limits, 20 called for changes to national policy, 16 objected to existing 20mph limits on county roads, and eight referred specifically to Welsh Government-managed Trunk Road locations, over which the Council has no control.
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The council reviewed 34 road sections, all of which have been re-evaluated according to the Welsh Government's 30mph exceptions guidance. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
The result of the review was that no further changes were identified, and the 20mph limits introduced on county roads within Ceredigion in 2023 should remain.
This decision has sparked a lively debate on social media, reports North Wales Live.
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One frustrated local voiced their dismay saying: "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 chimed in with criticism: "Why should we be surprised that this self centred council have again done nothing for the people who live here.
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"Doing nothing equates to 'can't be bothered'. They would rather spend money driving away tourism by building cycle paths on sea front parking!"
Yet, the council's actions did find some backers.
One supporter of the measures expressed relief: "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."
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There was praise from another resident too: "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, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment in Ceredigion, 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.
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"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."