Changes could be made to the unpopular 20mph speed limit policy in Wales after disapproval from motorists and concerns over whether it was making a difference on the roads.
Ken Stakes, the new Welsh Transport Secretary, said 20mph speed limits should be targeted at schools, hospitals and nurseries, rather than a blanket proposal.
He added how there had been support for the measures in areas with young children and elderly people, given the focus on slow speeds and road safety.
This was in response to the wildly unpopular scheme introduced in September last year, where all restricted roads were converted to just 20mph.
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The 20mph speed limit policy was introduced in September last year
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The policy has become one of the most controversial issues facing the Welsh Government and has exposed rifts in Labour who fear it could hurt them in the upcoming general election.
Shadow Transport Secretary Natasha Asghar, Welsh Conservative MS for South Wales East, called the scheme “hugely unpopular” and called on Labour to review the policy as soon as possible.
It follows a petition calling for the removal of the 20mph roads which attracted the signature of almost 470,000 people – the most in Senedd petition history.
The petition creator, Mark Baker, said he wanted the petition to remain open until its six-month expiration to give all people the chance to give their opinions.
More than one-third (37 per cent) of the road network in Wales now has the 20mph default speed limit, with councils able to apply for exemptions on certain stretches of roads where the lower limit may not be needed.
The 20mph debate is expected to rage on in the coming months ahead of the general election and as enforcement of the 20mph rules continues.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said 20mph limits should “only be used in the right places”, like outside schools.
He added: “While the Welsh Labour Govt is finally starting to agree with the Conservatives, it must be frustrating for those Welsh drivers ignored by Labour and for Welsh taxpayers who have to pick up the bill.
“Now Labour have begun to undo their anti-driver policies, they must urgently review their ideological ban on new road building – particularly for safety schemes.
“When he was running to be @PrifWeinidog [First Minister], I wrote to Vaughan Gething encouraging him to see sense on this matter.”
This letter detailed how Harper wanted to “urgently encourage” Gething to review Labour’s transport policy in Wales and potentially reverse the limits.
He described the 20mph roads as “confusing and frustrating”, claiming that they were driven forward by Labour’s “political ideology”.
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Welsh ministers have hinted that changes will take place to appease drivers
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While the new speed limits were introduced in September, enforcement in Wales only began in January after an “initial bedding in period”.
