With the roll-out of blanket 20mph speed limits in Wales coming
into force on Sunday 17th September, the Welsh
Conservatives have tabled a motion in the Senedd on Wednesday
calling for The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales)
Order 2022 to be repealed.
Blanket 20mph speed limits in Wales will cost at least £33
million to implement, whilst the Welsh Government’s own
explanatory memorandum to the bill has highlighted that 20mph
speed limits will cost the Welsh economy up to £9 billion.
In addition to this, concerns have been raised over the summer by
Wales’ emergency services, who have outlined that blanket 20mph
speed limits will slow their response times down, effectively
putting lives at risk. This is all whilst businesses believe
their livelihoods will be put on the line, creating mass
confusion, yet 20mph speed limits will actually likely increase
emissions.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport,
said:
“Labour’s blanket 20mph speed limits will have a detrimental
impact on our economy, emergency services, and the livelihoods of
the people in Wales. That’s why in the Senedd this week, the
Welsh Conservatives are forcing a final vote on the issue,
telling the Labour Government to not go ahead with this ludicrous
and dangerous policy.
“With the Labour Government’s own explanatory memorandum to their
20mph bill stating that 20mph speed limits will cost the economy
up to a whopping £9 billion, it’s time for Labour to focus on the
people’s priorities, which they continue to neglect. We believe
this money would be better spent on more doctors, more teachers,
and more nurses.
“Now is the time for Labour to put their extreme ideology and
mass confusion to one side and scrap barmy blanket 20mph speed
limits.”
The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the Welsh Government to repeal The Restricted Roads
(20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022, due to come into force
on 17th September 2023.
