Council completes review of 20mph speed limits

Powys County Council has completed its review of 20mph speed limits across the county, with proposed changes to 43 road sections now set to go through a formal legal process that will include public consultation.

The review, which followed a Welsh Government listening exercise conducted during the summer, received feedback from residents across Powys about the 20mph speed limits introduced in September 2023.

It is not known if any roads in Welshpool are affected.

The feedback revealed mixed views on the speed limit changes, with 97 responses supporting the retention of 20mph limits and 67 responses requesting changes to specific locations.

There were 53 responses requesting the complete revocation of the 20mph policy, which the council has directed to the Welsh Government as they cannot act on these requests. Additionally, 25 responses concerned speed limit requests that fall outside the scope of the Welsh Government's 20mph review.

The 43 individual sites or road sections identified for potential changes will now be assessed against revised Welsh Government guidance on setting speed limits. Where deemed appropriate, roads may either return to 30mph or be reduced to 20mph, depending on the specific circumstances.

These proposals have been shared with county councillors and town and community councils for further comment, with their input helping to finalise the recommendations that will proceed to the next stage.

If approved by the council through a Portfolio Holder Delegated Decision, the proposals will be subject to a legal statutory traffic regulation order (TRO) process. This formal procedure will include public consultation, providing residents with another opportunity to support or object to the proposed changes.

Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys, expressed gratitude to those who participated in the feedback process. "We are grateful to those who took the time to provide us with feedback during the Welsh Government's recent listening exercise," she said.

"It was pleasing to receive so many positive comments in support of the 20mph policy and how residents felt it had improved road safety and the local environment in their communities."

Details of the specific roads under consideration in the current review have not been publicly disclosed, but the council has indicated that information about the TRO consultations will be published on their website at https://en.powys.gov.uk/trafficconsult.

The 20mph default speed limit was introduced across Wales in September 2023 as part of the Welsh Government's efforts to improve road safety and encourage more walking and cycling. The policy has proven controversial, with the largest petition in Senedd history calling for its removal attracting nearly 470,000 signatures.

However, monitoring data suggests the policy has achieved its primary objectives, with vehicle speeds reducing and early casualty data showing positive trends, though officials stress that multiple years of data will be needed to draw firm conclusions.

Residents who wish to stay informed about the TRO process and public consultations are advised to monitor the Powys County Council website for updates on when and how they can participate in the formal consultation process.