20mph Wales: Some roads to revert to 30mph after backlash

If you weren’t aware, a controversial 20mph policy was introduced in Wales in September 2023 with the aim of improving road safety, which saw the default speed limit on roads in built up areas cut from 30mph to 20mph. 

Unsurprisingly there was a huge backlash about the Welsh government's £34m default 20mph policy from, well, pretty much everyone. Almost half a million signatures were added to a petition opposing the policy, brought in under former first minister Mark Drakeford and his transport minister Lee Waters. On the other hand, the policy has also enjoyed support from groups including those representing cyclists, and others have even called for it to be extended to areas not covered in the rollout.

Today it has been announced that the highly controversial scheme has been assessed, and only 6 months after the changes were introduced, some roads will be changed back to 30mph.

Ken Skates, who took over transport for Wales on 21st March, said:

"There is generally universal support for 20mph being targeted in areas where there are schools, built up areas like housing estates, and outside hospitals and so-forth, but in many areas, routes that shouldn't have been included, were.”

He said the changes will enable individual councils to revert routes back to 30mph where appropriate, adding that this will allow for "radical" changes, if that is "what people want”.

The many local councillors have welcomed the change, but said the government must help foot the bill to reverting signage back to 30mph. Mr Skates added that he does not feel it would be fair to place those costs on local authorities, given that councils are making "really tough" decisions.

Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff council, said the news was welcome, and that it was not possible to "pretend there isn't a half-million-person petition”, and he is glad the power will rest with local governments and that the work will be "mostly" funded by the Welsh government. Mr Thomas added that in Cardiff, where most of city was 20mph already, the policy had been very popular, and that he "certainly can't see many roads changing”, so maybe the changes won’t be the solution that may of those half a million people want.

What do you think about the changes, and the local councillors being in charge of deciding them? Let us know in the comments below👇