Architect of Welsh 20mph scheme to head review on its success
THE Welsh Government has appointed one of the architects of the new 20mph speed limit to lead the review into how the policy works.
Phil Jones, who led the Wales 20mph Task Force Group in 2019, has been appointed by Lee Waters, the Welsh transport minister, to look into the implementation of the policy by local authorities. It has been met with criticism from opposition parties, who have accused the Labour Government of “marking its own homework”. Last year, Wales became the first country in the UK to reduce the default speed limit from 30mph to 20mph in built-up areas.
The review will examine how local councils consider exceptions to the 20mph law, which would allow routes to revert back to the original 30mph limit. Plaid Cymru said it should be independent of those who played any part in the original legislation.
Mr Waters said on Wednesday that he had asked Mr Jones “to consider whether further tweaks on the guidance on exceptions would be helpful”, such as major bus routes. It is understood that the policy itself will not change as a result of the review.
The final report of the task force led by Mr Jones concluded in July 2020 that a default 20mph speed limit should be introduced “as quickly as possible”.
Natasha Asghar, the Welsh Conservative transport minister, said with Mr Jones leading the review that it “will hardly be impartial and a true reflection of reality”.
She added: “The Welsh Government is marking its own homework on the hugely unpopular 20mph speed limit. Surely the same people who recommended the Welsh Government should implement this policy should not be leading the review into it.”
A Plaid Cymru spokesman told the BBC that the appointment of Mr Jones “will no doubt be seen by many as the Welsh government wanting to play judge and jury”.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “As Phil Jones ... chaired the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group, he is wellplaced to assess whether clarifications in the policy are needed to encourage greater consistency.”