A Pembrokeshire County Councillor has slammed the Welsh Government’s withdrawal of traffic calming funding throughout Wales in order to channel its money into the Government’s 20 mph speed limit programme.
Welsh Liberal Democrat County Councillor Alistair Cameron, who represents the Kilgetty and Begelly ward commented: “I support the decision to reduce the default speed limit in built up areas from 30 mph to 20 mph as this will reduce vehicle speeds and save lives.
“However, I am very critical of the Welsh Government for taking away all of this year’s funding for traffic calming to pay to bring in the 20 mph limit such as through new signage.
“The 20 mph limit needs to be backed up with traffic calming.
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“A good example is in Begelly where we need measures to slow down vehicles, widen the pavement and make junctions safer such as the Broom Lane junction,” he continued.
“Residents have been waiting for years for these measures and they have now been put on hold again by the Welsh Government’s decision to spend all of its money in 2023/4 on signage etc for the 20 mph limits.
“The Welsh Government should have thought this through properly.
“For instance, they could have phased in the 20 mph limits rather than bringing them all in during one day on 17 September.
“They then would have had some money available for traffic calming ensuring the 20 mph limits are effective.”
The 20 mph speed limit will apply throughout Wales where there is a current default speed limit of 30 mph.
This will all happen on September 17 when all 30 mph roads will go down to 20 mph, unless the county council makes an exception for some roads where a 20 mph limit is not appropriate or feasible.
Pembrokeshire County Council is proposing 27 exceptions and is currently consulting on which roads the 20 mph restriction should apply to.
The consultation ends on Wednesday, June 7.
Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents Services said: “This has been a significant and complex piece of work undertaken by staff in the Traffic Management Team in order to get us ready to implement this legislation from Welsh Government and I want to thank them for the time they have put in to get us to this point in the process.
“Now it is over to the community to provide comments on the proposals and I very much hope that they take time to respond.”
The proposed exceptions and proposed 20mph limits can be viewed at: View map | DataMapWales (gov.wales) or alternatively in person at County Hall reception.
How to take part in the consultation:
• Members of the public will be able to take part in the consultation online on the Council’s website at Traffic Regulation Orders - Pembrokeshire County Council
• Documents and plans will also be available to view at County Hall in Haverfordwest up until to June 7 (please call into Reception, which is open 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).
For more info on the 20mph default speed limit, please see: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/20mph-new-legislation-in-pembrokeshire-and-wales