THE Welsh Conservatives are set to bring forward a motion in the Senedd tomorrow (25th September) calling for the repeal of the default 20mph speed limit, marking one year since the controversial law was introduced by the Labour-led Welsh Government. The move comes after growing public backlash, with concerns over the economic and environmental impacts of the policy.
The default 20mph speed limit, implemented in September 2023, was met with widespread opposition. According to the Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum, the policy could cost the Welsh economy up to £8.9 billion due to longer journey times. Public discontent has been reflected in a record-breaking Senedd petition, with nearly half a million people (469,571) signing to demand the reversal of the speed limit change.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, has voiced her support for the scrapping of the 20mph limit, describing the policy as a “disastrous” move by the Welsh Government. She pointed to comments made by the former Deputy Minister for Transport, who admitted that “more common sense” should have been applied when implementing the scheme.
“One year on from Labour’s disastrous 20mph rollout, and the Welsh Government still refuse to listen to the Welsh public,” said Asghar. “The only common-sense approach would be to follow what the Welsh Conservatives have said since day one: scrap the 20mph scheme and only apply it to heavily pedestrianised areas.”
The Senedd motion, which will be debated tomorrow, notes the significant public opposition to the speed limit, highlighting the nearly half a million petition signatures and the thousands of requests received by Welsh local authorities to revert roads from 20mph back to 30mph. The motion also draws attention to a Transport for Wales report which found that half of the monitored areas inside 20mph zones saw increased nitrogen dioxide levels, raising concerns over air quality.
The motion reads:
- Recognises the default 20mph speed limit has been in place in Wales for over one year.
- Notes:
- the 469,571 signatories to the Senedd petition: ‘We want the Welsh Government to rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law’;
- the economic dis-benefit of up to £8.9 billion identified in the Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum;
- the former Deputy Minister for Transport’s comments that ‘more common sense’ should have been used in implementing the law;
- the findings from Transport for Wales’ air quality report which indicated higher nitrogen dioxide levels in some 20mph zones;
- the thousands of requests from Welsh local authorities to revert roads back to 30mph.
- Calls on the Welsh Government to:
- repeal the default 20mph speed limit; and
- work with local authorities to develop a more targeted approach to 20mph zones with local consent.
The debate in the Senedd is expected to reignite tensions over the policy, which has been a divisive issue across Wales. While proponents of the 20mph limit argue it improves road safety and reduces accidents in residential areas, critics contend that it has led to longer travel times, economic disruption, and environmental concerns.
The Welsh Government has yet to comment on the Conservative motion, but it remains to be seen whether they will reconsider the speed limit policy amid mounting public and political pressure.
