Welsh Government’s default 20mph speed limit for Wales has moved on to the next stage of its roll out. The Council has published the public notice on proposed exemptions where specific roads would retain a 30mph speed limit.
Welsh Government has previously approved the default 20mph speed limit which will come into effect across Wales on September 17, 2023. All councils in Wales must therefore implement this initiative, which will result in most of the current default 30mph roads being reduced to 20mph later this year. As a general rule, it will apply to roads where street lighting is currently in place.
The following links to the Welsh Government website enable residents to find out more about the legislation, ahead of the changes coming into effect:
In February 2023, the Council began advanced works to prepare its highway network for the changes, with all costs for the initiative being met by the Welsh Government. The first stage includes the removal of some speed limit road markings – with some locations requiring small resurfacing works. All but two locations have been completed in the Cynon Valley, while work is progressing in Rhondda and will start in the Taff area in the weeks ahead.
Last month (June 13), the Council announced it has identified current 30mph roads that are proposed to be exempt from the changes from September – as they do not meet the specified placemaking criteria set by Welsh Government. More than 70 roads have been identified in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and they are available to view on the data map on Welsh Government’s website, here.
The Council has now published the official public notice on the proposal to implement the proposed 30mph exemptions in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Please note, the public notice only relates to the proposed exemptions – and does not include the wider implementation of the default 20mph speed limit for Wales, which is already agreed by Welsh Government.
All documents relating to the public notice were uploaded to the Council’s website – at www.rctcbc.gov.uk/20mph – from Monday, July 17. This part of the process allows residents to formally raise objections to any of the proposed 30mph exemptions. Objections must be submitted via email, to the dedicated 20mph@rctcbc.gov.uk address, for formal consideration by officers.
Residents can also continue to use this email address to get in touch with officers with general enquiries about the changes from September. The Council’s website homepage also provides residents with project updates, details about the changes, and key links to the Welsh Government’s website.
Posted on 21/07/2023