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| Safety fears mean 'cautious' 20mph reversal | Safety fears mean 'cautious' 20mph reversal |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| The Welsh government switched the default speed limit in September 2023, but the policy is now under review. | The Welsh government switched the default speed limit in September 2023, but the policy is now under review. |
| Worries about potential deaths means there will be a "cautious approach" to reversing the 20mph speed limit on dozens of roads in one Welsh county despite overwhelming local support. | |
| A public consultation in Wrexham county, which concluded at the end of January, revealed most people wanted to see the 52 roads under consideration revert back to 30mph. | |
| Councils across Wales are reviewing their 20mph roads after almost half a million people petitioned the Welsh government calling for it to be scrapped. | Councils across Wales are reviewing their 20mph roads after almost half a million people petitioned the Welsh government calling for it to be scrapped. |
| The Welsh government said the main aim of the policy was to save lives and reduce casualties. | The Welsh government said the main aim of the policy was to save lives and reduce casualties. |
| Dave Bithell, Wrexham council's strategic member for transport, said there were "safety concerns" over changes to the roads. | Dave Bithell, Wrexham council's strategic member for transport, said there were "safety concerns" over changes to the roads. |
| Although he has delegated powers to make the changes, he said the matter would now go before the executive board for a collective decision. | Although he has delegated powers to make the changes, he said the matter would now go before the executive board for a collective decision. |
| The council had never been in this position, he added. | |
| "Whenever we have considered road speeds, it has always been to reduce them," he said. | "Whenever we have considered road speeds, it has always been to reduce them," he said. |
| "We have never increased speeds as a council." | "We have never increased speeds as a council." |
| Bithell said increasing speed upped the risk of harm if there was an accident, "so we need to get this right". | Bithell said increasing speed upped the risk of harm if there was an accident, "so we need to get this right". |
| "I don't want it on my conscience – and I don't think the executive board want it on theirs either – if there is a fatality after the changes are made." | "I don't want it on my conscience – and I don't think the executive board want it on theirs either – if there is a fatality after the changes are made." |
| Councillor Dave Bithell says the changes will be carefully considered | Councillor Dave Bithell says the changes will be carefully considered |
| The Welsh government switched the default speed limit on mostly urban roads on 17 September 2023 and, with some exemptions, most 30mph roads became 20. | |
| Data for the first year of the policy revealed there had been about 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads. | Data for the first year of the policy revealed there had been about 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on 20 and 30mph roads. |
| The figures showed the number of people hurt fell by 28% compared with the same period the year before, with 10 fewer deaths. | |
| But the scheme, introduced while Mark Drakeford was first minister, has been one of the Welsh government's most controversial initiatives since devolution began. | But the scheme, introduced while Mark Drakeford was first minister, has been one of the Welsh government's most controversial initiatives since devolution began. |
| The policy is now under review, and local authorities are considering whether more roads can be switched back to 30mph. | The policy is now under review, and local authorities are considering whether more roads can be switched back to 30mph. |
| 20mph policy 'a mess' | 20mph policy 'a mess' |
| The leader of Wrexham council, councillor Mark Prichard, said the introduction of the 20mph policy had been "a mess" from the start. | The leader of Wrexham council, councillor Mark Prichard, said the introduction of the 20mph policy had been "a mess" from the start. |
| "The Welsh government were told and no-one listened," he said. | "The Welsh government were told and no-one listened," he said. |
| "What I would say to any government, not just the Welsh government, is learn from this and don't do it again. The numbers on the petitions, the money that has been spent. | "What I would say to any government, not just the Welsh government, is learn from this and don't do it again. The numbers on the petitions, the money that has been spent. |
| "It's millions upon millions at a time when local authorities are struggling for money." | "It's millions upon millions at a time when local authorities are struggling for money." |
| Ken Skates, the cabinet secretary for transport and north Wales, said the main objective of the policy had been to save lives and reduce casualties. | Ken Skates, the cabinet secretary for transport and north Wales, said the main objective of the policy had been to save lives and reduce casualties. |
| "Building on the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and play, we want to ensure we have the right speeds on the right roads," he said. | "Building on the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and play, we want to ensure we have the right speeds on the right roads," he said. |
| "With Welsh government support, highway authorities have now started the formal process of reviewing their 20mph roads based on the revised guidance and the feedback they received." | "With Welsh government support, highway authorities have now started the formal process of reviewing their 20mph roads based on the revised guidance and the feedback they received." |
| Mr Skates said a number of local authorities have completed this process with more to follow in the coming weeks and months. | Mr Skates said a number of local authorities have completed this process with more to follow in the coming weeks and months. |
| Wrexham council is aiming for a target date of May to complete the roll-back. | |
| Bithell said the local authority hoped to work with road safety organisation Go Safe and North Wales Police on a campaign making people aware of the changes. |