30mph speed limits returning to roads in Newtown

Speed limits on a number of roads in Newtown have or are reverting to 30mph following a review of the controversial 20mph limits, according to a town and county councillor.

The changes affect sections of roads in several parts of the town, including Pool Road, Kerry Road, Heol Treowen, Llanfair Road and Milford Road, although some may already have been implemented.

Newtown county councillor Peter Lewington told the latest meeting of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council that speed limits in a number of areas of the town were reverting from 20mph to 30mph.

The changes follow a review undertaken by Powys County Council after the Welsh Government invited people to provide feedback on the introduction of the default 20mph speed limit.

The review identified a number of roads and sections of road in Newtown where changes to speed limits were recommended.

These included the A4811 Pool Road and roads serving the Dyffryn Industrial Estate and Wem Ddu Lane.

Changes were also identified for Kerry Road, Heol Vastre and part of Heol Treowen.

The review recommended a 30mph limit on Kerry Road from the 40mph limit to just before the pedestrian crossing.

It said this section had originally been intended to remain at 30mph when the default 20mph limit was introduced, but an error meant it was not formally exempted.

Officers concluded that the nature of the road met the criteria for a 30mph limit, while the area around the railway bridge and pedestrian crossing should remain at 20mph.

The review also recommended a 30mph limit on roads around the Vastre Industrial Estate and on the eastern end of Heol Treowen between Kerry Road and a point just east of the Cledan junction.

Llanfair Road was also included, with the review recommending that the 20mph limit should begin near the hospital and the section beyond it should be 30mph.

Milford Road was another location considered as part of the review. Proposals included moving the start of the 20mph limit to just west of the Brynwood Drive junction, while a section previously subject to a 40mph limit was proposed to become 30mph.

As the review and subsequent approval process took place before the latest Town Council meeting, some of the new limits may already be in place.

The latest update from councillors indicates that the process of changing speed limits in Newtown is continuing.

The review followed the introduction of the default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales in September 2023.