Talks still ongoing about 20mph speed changes

The council has revealed that discussions are still ongoing on which Powys roads could revert back to 30mph from the controversial 20 mph speed limit.

The default 20mph speed limit had come into force on September 17, 2023

Following a massive backlash against the new speed limit, including a petition signed by just under 470,000 people calling for it to be scrapped, the Labour Welsh Government made a partial U-turn.

The government asked people across Wales to contact their local authority, such as Powys County Council, with feedback on how their changes to the national default speed limit had been implemented on specific roads.

This period for “feedback” took place between April and August last year.

Last September Powys council announced that they had received comments on 48 individual sites or sections of road that were to be assessed against the revised government guidance on speed limits which had been published in July last year.

The council said there would be ” further opportunities” for people to have their say during the process.

At the time cabinet member for highways and transport Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton said that it was “pleasing” that so many “positive comments” were received supporting the 20mph policy.

Last month neighbouring council’s Wrexham and Monmouthshire finished their road reviews.

Wrexham council announced that it intends changing 52 stretches of road back to 30mph from 20 mph, while Monmouthshire council has said that all roads there that were set at 20mph would stay at that speed.

The LDRS has asked Powys council for an update on how their review is proceeding and when a list of any potentials changes will be made public.

A spokesman for the council has said: “We are currently consulting county councillors and town and community councils on our review.

“We have listened to the public and reviewed their requests, putting together draft proposals to say that this is what the public have asked but what the council thinks based on the Welsh Government’s review criteria.

“Once we have had feedback from county councillors and town and community councils, we will finalise the proposals and formally publish.”

Welsh Government guidance says a 30mph speed limit could be set if the road is “located outside city, town or village centres” and “away from places that attract frequent pedestrian and/or cyclist traffic”.

It also says that the limit can be raised on: “roads with low housing density and where, if there are pedestrians and cyclists, they are or could be segregated from motor traffic. 

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporting Service