Public consulted on 20mph changes

THE Welsh Government has announced that a speed limit of 20mph will be introduced for restricted roads in Wales from 17 September 2023 – and Gwynedd Council has launched a consultation on public views on the proposals within the county.

Restricted roads are usually in urban areas and include roads where street lights are placed no more than 200 yards apart.

Their aim by introducing the change will be to:

reduce the number of collisions and serious injuries;

encourage more people to walk and cycle in our communities;

help to improve our health and well-being; make our streets safer; protect the environment for future generations.

The current 30mph limits will be reduced to 20mph in most sites in Gwynedd. But with some roads where there is justification, the restrictions will remain at 30mph and detailed work has been carried out to consider these by the Council’s engineers.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig, Cyngor Gwynedd Cabinet Member for Environment said: “The Welsh Government has announced the intention that a 20mph speed restriction will be introduced on residential and busy pedestrian streets, and roads where street lights are placed no more than 200 yards apart. Of course, the principle of reducing the number of accidents on the roads and encouraging more walking and cycling is to be welcomed.

“But to ensure that the changes are introduced in the most sensible way locally, we want to hear your views about what is being proposed for the county roads network in Gwynedd.”

A map outlining the proposals for the roads that Cyngor Gwynedd is responsible for, and details about how to submit comments are available on gwynedd. llyw.cymru/20mph - anyone wishing to comment should do so by 28 April 2023. The Welsh Government is responsible for trunk roads in Gwynedd and therefore the map does