Welsh Government Review Confirms Changes to some 20mph Limits on Trunk Roads – as Critics Slam ‘Token Gesture’ Ahead of an Election

The Welsh Government has confirmed that some sections of trunk road reduced to 20mph under the default speed limit policy are likely to revert to 30mph following a recent review.

The review examined 20mph and 30mph limits on trunk roads across Wales and identified stretches where the lower limit may not be appropriate. Among the roads referenced are sections of the A483 and A494, where changes are expected to be considered.

The default 20mph policy, introduced in September 2023 on restricted roads across Wales, has been the subject of ongoing debate. While the Welsh Government has maintained that the policy is designed to improve road safety and reduce casualties, critics argue it has led to confusion for drivers and wider economic impacts.

The scheme is estimated to have cost around £32 million to implement. Questions have also been raised by opposition politicians about the broader economic implications of the policy.

Commenting following the publication of the review, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport & Infrastructure, Sam Rowlands MS, said:

“Labour and Plaid Cymru’s disastrous default 20mph speed limit has slowed Wales down and held our economy back.

“Their own review now admits that some 20mph stretches on trunk roads such as the A483 and A494 went too far, with sections set to return to 30mph, but motorists will still face confusion and years of delays before changes are implemented.

“Lower speed limits make sense outside schools, hospitals and in high-risk areas, but Labour and Plaid’s one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. The Welsh Conservatives are committed to scrapping Labour’s default 20mph speed limit.”

Mark Baker, 20mph Petitioner said:

“This policy was widely opposed by motorists from the start, the implementation was very different to the few bare lines that were proposed in Labour’s last manifesto about reduced speed around schools, hospitals and residential areas and it’s unsurprising that many people were vocal in their opposition.

“Nonetheless, the administration has, until the upcoming election, largely ignored multiple in-person protests at the Senedd, a convoy drive by motorists across Wales and a record-breaking petition signed by nearly three quarters of a million residents.  Few Ministers even turned up in person to the petition debate they were legally required to hold, and no vote on the petition was held as they were not legally required to have one – it smacks of complete disrespect.

“And finally, now we have an election in May, they are considering changes, but only after considerable dissatisfaction across the principality.  Excuse me if I regard this, along with the sudden desire to repair potholes that have blighted Wales since the last election in 2022 as nothing more than a desperate, cynical gesture ahead of an election that they are, in my view, concerned about losing.”

The Welsh Government has previously stated that local authorities are able to review individual roads and make adjustments where there is evidence to support changes. Any alterations to trunk road limits will be subject to further assessment and implementation processes.

The debate over the 20mph default limit continues, with supporters citing safety benefits and opponents calling for a more targeted approach.