The campaign group 20’s Plenty say there was always a plan for guidance on where to place 20 mile per hour limits in Wales to be reviewed, after a report stated that the country’s new First Minister “backs scrapping of blanket 20mph rule”.

The Telegraph said Eluned Morgan wants lowered speed limit to remain in built-up areas and around schools, but will let councils decide on other roads.

However 20’s Plenty’s founder and Campaign Director Rod King says there never was a “blanket” 20mph limit. It was always a default for built-up roads with exceptions decided by Highway Authorities. “In fact,” he writes, “Members of Senedd have been warned by the Senedd Standards Commissioner that the use of the word blanket is incorrect and misinforms.”

Furthermore, he says nothing is being “removed” by the Welsh Government. “It has merely updated the guidance using the experience from the first six months of implementation.”

Furthermore he adds, “The comment that “Wales’s new First Minister says she will allow councils to raise the limit back to 30mph on some roads.” Is not really news. Councils have always been allowed to raise the limit to 30mph. This power derives from Westminster rather than Welsh Government. It was always the position that a review of the guidance would be conducted.”

Mr King also comments that statistics which have been published for the first six months show a 29% reduction in casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads combined for Oct 23 to Mar 24 when compared to the period Oct 22 to Mar 23.

There is an FAQ on how the guidance has changed here explaining how the main principles of the previous guidance have been maintained.

(Picture – Yay Images)