All eyes on Wrexham Council for 20MPH ‘next steps’ as Minister says “this is about getting the right speeds on the right roads”

Ahead of the anniversary of the introduction of the 20mph default speed limit in Wales, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, has set out the “next steps”.

Earlier this year, the Cabinet Secretary announced a three phase-plan on 20mph, including a ‘National Listening Programme’ over the summer, which encouraged people to get involved and have their say. Welsh Government published revised guidance for highway authorities in July.

Welsh Government say, “Local authorities are now in the process of reviewing feedback from people, business, and communities across Wales to ensure 20mph is targeted on the right roads. A number of councils are now starting to set out the final stage of the plan by publishing information on the amount of feedback received and the next steps.”

This has not happened in Wrexham yet.

They add, “Once their review is complete, if local authorities decide to change the speed limit on an individual road, a statutory Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process will commence – providing a further opportunity for engagement with local people.”

Part of the ‘TRO’ process involves printing large notices in the back of newspapers with dropping circulations.

They added, “The latest statistics provide encouraging signs that things are moving in the right direction, with a fall in collisions and a reduction in speeds.”

Speaking ahead of the one-year anniversary, Ken Skates said: “I wanted to give people a voice on 20mph in their area and I am grateful to everyone who has shared feedback with their local council over the past few months.

“I want to build from the broad consensus that 20mph is right where people live, work and play – this is about getting the right speeds on the right roads.

“I want to pay tribute to our partners in local government. I’m pleased that local authorities are starting to move into the final stages of the plan. This will move at different paces in different places, according to local circumstances and the amount of feedback received.”

Chair of the Welsh Local Government Association, Cllr Andrew Morgan added: “Local authorities welcome the further funding and support offered by the Welsh Government to get the right speeds on the right roads but are faced with challenging decisions. We will need to carefully balance the benefits and disbenefits of raising speeds. Safety of all road users will be at the heart of the decisions we take.”

As we have reported previously, the changes will be yet another bountiful time for some – not all – print publications in Wales, with several hundred thousand pounds of public money spent to ‘inform’ the public via statutory notices in the back of newspapers which are seeing ongoing drops in circulations. This sum does not include the £800k+ paid promotion campaign advertising on Facebook / TV / etc by Welsh Government for the 20MPH rollout – something now that the former Minister Lee Waters said was not enough.

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives joined forces to ensure that all-but-subsidy remained for declining legacy print media.

More: Six out of ten Newsquest newspapers in Wales would have been loss making last year without public notice revenue / “It is not for local authorities to fund local or national print media”, says Senedd committee

The overall cost for the introduction of the 20MPH speed limit has been put at £32,000,000.

There are no firm estimates on what the further adjustment of the policy / law will cost, however previously Ken Skates MS has said, “We will not expect councils, who are facing difficult financial pressures, to cover the cost of adjusting routes back to 30mph”.