Queries over 20mph limit

I READ with interest the letter submitted by Alice Greenlees and Heather Booker regarding climate change and related pollution issues (Post, Monday).

It would seem that the Welsh Senedd isn’t getting the message on pollution.

They propose to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit in all residential areas throughout Wales. I contend this will increase pollution.

We are aware of the 50mph speed limit through Baglan Moors which has been implemented to reduce pollution, we are told.

I assume the rationale is that with reduced road speeds, engine speeds will reduce and thus reduce pollution.

However, a blanket 20mph speed limit is likely to cause increased congestion and thus will increase pollution.

Furthermore, vehicles will need to engage lower gears in order to comply with the limit, increasing engine speeds and thus further increasing pollution. This is clearly in direct contrast to their 50mph speed limit policy.

The Senedd seeks to “win the hearts and minds” of the people over this issue, but are being less than transparent.

They claim that 50% of the deaths on Welsh roads in 2018 happened in the 30mph limit.

A freedom of information request revealed that the statistics do not corroborate this claim.

Furthermore, there was scant publicity regarding the consultation process, which has now closed. There is an online e-petition active until the middle of October on this issue.

It is claimed that various areas in Wales have been selected for a 20mph pilot, one being Cilfrew in Neath. I can see no meaningful pilot there and a freedom of information request asking for details of the pilot has been raised.

So I would say that the

COP26 Coalition should look much closer to home and start lobbying the Senedd to abandon the blanket 20mph proposal. John M Williams Neath