Security apprehensions means ‘alert’ 20mph reversed

Conflicts about potential incompatibility means that despite local support, there will be a “cautious approach” to reverse the 20mph speed limit on a Welsh county on dozens of roads.

A public counseling in Wrexham County, which concluded in late January, revealed that most people wanted to see 52 roads under consideration to return to 30mph under consideration.

Council in Wales is reviewing its 20mph roads, about half a million people filed a petition of the Welsh government. Calling it to finish.

The Welsh government said that the main objective of the policy was to save life and reduce the number of casualties.

Wrexham Council strategic member Dave Bethel said that there were “security concerns” over roads.

Although he has handed over the powers to make changes, he said that the matter will now go before the Executive Board for the collective decision.

He said that the council never held this post.

“Whenever we have considered the speed of the road, it has always been to reduce them,” he said.

“We have never increased speed as a council.”

Bethel said that rising speed increased the risk of loss if an accident occurred, “therefore we need to get this right”.

“I don’t want it at my discretion – and I don’t think the executive board either wants to them – if someone is fatal after change.”

The Welsh government changed the default speed limit on most urban roads on 17 September 2023, and with some discounts, most of the 30mph roads increased to 20.

Data was revealed for the first year of policy About 100 less people were killed or seriously injured 20 and 30mph roads.

Statistics have shown that with 10 less deadly people, compared to the same period, the number of people has declined by 28%.

But the plan, when Mark Drakeford was the first minister, was started, one of the most controversial initiatives of the Welsh government began when the deviation began.

The policy is now being reviewed, and local officials are considering whether more roads can be switched back to 30mph.

The leader of the Wrexham Council, Councilor Mark Pricehard said that the introduction of the 20MPH policy was “mess” from the beginning.

“Welsh government was told and no one listened,” he said.

“What will I say to any government, not only the Welsh government, learn from it and do not re -learn it. The number on the petitions, which has been spent.

“This is on millions of people at a time when local officials are struggling for money.”

Cabinet Secretary of Transport and North Wales Kane Skates said that the main objective of the policy was to save life and reduce the number of casualties.

“Built on comprehensive consent that 20mph is perfect where people live, work and play, we want to make sure that we have the right speed on the right roads,” he said.

“With the support of the Welsh government, highway officials have now started a formal process of reviewing their 20mph roads based on the amended guidance and response received.”

Mr. Skates said that many local authorities have completed this process in the coming weeks and months.

Wrexham Council is targeting to complete the roll-back for a target date of May.

While Bethel said that the local authority hoped that Safe and North Wales Police informed people about changes on a campaign to work with the road safety organization.