Wales must hold nerve on 20mph, say cycling groups

A cycling charity has called the 20mph zones "the right thing, rather than the easy thing"

The Welsh government should hold its nerve on the 20mph speed limit, cycling groups urge.

It comes after the new transport secretary, Ken Skates, said there would be changes to the existing default 20mph speed limit in built-up areas of Wales.

He said 20mph zones should be targeted at schools, hospitals and nurseries.

Charity Cycling UK said "children, older people and other vulnerable groups aren’t tethered to single stretches of road outside schools and hospitals".

The aim of the new speed limit, introduced across Wales last September, is to improve road safety and cut casualties.

However, it has proved controversial with almost 500,000 signatories to a petition calling for the policy to be scrapped.

On Wednesday, Mr Skates said there was support for the speed limit in areas where children and the elderly were "at risk".

The Clwyd South Member of Senedd (MS), who was recently put in charge of transport policy in Wales by First Minister Vaughan Gething, said that there would be changes to the limit, with the "voice of citizens at the heart of all we do".

Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK’s Wales advocacy and development lead, says lower speeds save lives

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Skates said: "There is a growing consensus in this debate that 20mph is right around schools, hospital and nurseries.

"I really strongly feel across the chamber there is support for 20mph in those areas where it is appropriate, especially where children and the elderly are at risk.

"In such areas, it all makes sense, it all makes people feel safer but we do need to make sure that 20mph is targeted in those places as we always promised it would be".

"Changes will be done with and for the communities we all serve with the voice of citizens at the heart of all we do".

'Four out of five adults support 20mph'

However, Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK’s Wales advocacy and development lead said the Welsh government "did the right thing, rather than the easy thing" and "urged ministers to hold their nerve for the good of Welsh communities".

"Lower speeds save lives, and 20mph is a reasonable expectation where people live, work and play, not just outside schools and hospitals," she said.

In February, the Welsh government's Go Safe road safety partnership found 97% of 24,059 vehicles monitored were under the 25mph enforcement threshold.

Ms Owen said this survey "showed that four in five adults in Wales would support a 20mph speed limit in their neighbourhoods".

"Clearly the vast majority of people recognise slower speeds are good for communities, the environment and the wellbeing of children," she added.

Campaign group Cardiff Cycle City added it was "disappointed and alarmed" by the suggestion of changing the policy.

"Lowering the speed of motor vehicles in our communities is a fundamentally good thing to do. It makes sense environmentally and from a road safety perspective, " it said.

"It is a vital part of securing the wellbeing of future generations, which is a central tenet of the Welsh government’s own mission."

The group said Mr Skates had seemingly "succumbed to pressure from a tiny but vocal political minority" and urged the Welsh government to "leave this popular and effective policy in place".

Walking charity Living Streets echoed the plea, adding: "It’s upsetting to see that the Welsh government wants to back down on the policy, which we know will save lives.

“Cutting speeding traffic also makes people more likely to walk or cycle short distances rather than driving, which is better for their health and the environment.”

In Chepstow, Patrick Molyneux claimed the "blanket restriction" was "madness" as slower-moving vehicles were worse for the environment and drivers were more distracted by continually checking their speedometers.

"I think it's ill-thought through... I can't see that it's achieved the benefits they said it was going to," he said.

Meanwhile, Dawn Floyd, who runs a Chepstow antique shop, said the "general consensus" locally was that the 20mph limit was "infuriating".

She said she understood lower limits near schools and hospitals but "it's painful when it's on a straight road".

Health Secretary Eluned Morgan said she thought the new transport minister's approach was "sensible".

"There does seem to be a consensus on 20mph around schools, on hospitals, and on playgrounds. I think there is a debate to be had beyond that," she added.

Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside, who had previously raised concerns about the rollout of 20mph, said he welcomed Mr Skates' promise of changes to the policy.