A COUNCIL in Gwent has said it will consider requests to change 20mph speed limits in the borough once new guidance has been published.
It follows the announcement by Ken Skates MS, Wales' new transport secretary, in the Senedd on Tuesday that he wants to conduct a "listening exercise".
“What I am doing now is listening to what people want for the roads in their communities and pressing ahead with refining the policy,” he said.
Mr Skates told the Senedd the 20mph policy will be targeted at schools, hospitals, nurseries, community centres, play areas and built-up residential areas.
Nearly half a million people signed a record-breaking Senedd petition, calling for the “disastrous” 20mph policy, which came into force in September 2023, to be scrapped.
However, he said ultimately "the degree of change" lies with individual councils and local authorities throughout Wales.
Newport
A spokesperson for Newport City Council told the Argus: "As per the transport secretary’s statement in the Senedd yesterday, Welsh government continue working on the guidance that is to be used when considering where 20mph limits are to be implemented.
"This work will sit alongside a listening exercise that the government want to take place with citizens.
"The council implemented the 20mph speed limits in accordance with the current guidance, and it will consider any requests to change speed limits on roads in line with the revised guidance, once this is published."
It is not yet clear what the "listening exercise" the minister is putting forward will involve, however the council had previously stated on its website that that would not be a public consultation process for the streets defaulting to 20mph because 20mph was the default, in line with national guidance.
A map to show roads affected by changes to the speed limit can be viewed here.
Natasha Asghar, the Conservatives’ shadow transport secretary, meanwhile called for the “daft, divisive and destructive” law to be abandoned.
The South Wales East MS urged the government to make 30mph the default speed limit with exceptions made for 20mph, as opposed to the other way around.
Hefin David, the Labour MS for Caerphilly, had welcomed plans to review the 20mph guidance, calling for councillors in the community to be involved in discussions
The Argus has been in contact with all Gwent councils for their response to changes made to the 20mph guidance.
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