20mph speed limit goes live

From today most 30mph speed limits in Wales are changing to 20mph.

The Welsh Government have introduced a law to set default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales.

Restricted roads are generally those where streetlights are placed no more than 200 yards apart and are usually located in residential and built-up areas with high pedestrian activity.

However, Newtown will continue to have selected roads at 30mph.

Lengths of road to remain 30mph in Newtown include:

• C2087 – Park Street from a point approximately 6 metres in a southerly direction from the junction with U4245 Frolic Street in a southerly direction to the junction with A4811 New Road.
• U4244 –  Park Lane from its junction with C2087 Park Street to a point approximately 44 metres in a north westerly direction from the junction with U4243 Parklands.

The move will see Wales become the first UK nation to introduce a lower speed limit following in the footsteps of European countries, such as Spain, where 30km/h (18.5mph) is already in place.

Evidence shows reducing the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on these roads, will see a number of benefits including a reduction in road collisions and serious injury, more people walking and cycling and improvements to health and wellbeing.

In preparation for the change, Powys County Council have been working to remove some of the existing speed limit markings, or roundels, on the county's roads.

Replacement roundels and other signage changes will continue to be introduced after the implementation date.

On Wednesday, the Tories led a debate in an effort to stop the new speed limit, which will see restricted roads change from 30mph to 20mph.

However, Welsh Conservative Senedd Members voted against the new road safety regulation, while Labour and Plaid Cymru MSs supported its rollout.

During the debate, the Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters, criticized the Conservatives, stating that they have opposed "every progressive reform" in the country.