Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies, called for an explanation during First Minister’s Questions this Tuesday, as to why local authorities in North Wales are not making exemptions to the 20mph speed limit. Mr Davies drew attention to the figures stated by the Deputy Minister for Climate Change last week, that Denbighshire County Council have only approved exemptions to the 20mph speed limit on 0.6% of roads in the county.
The percentages are similarly low across North Wales, with Conwy at 0.8 per cent and Flintshire at 0.9 per cent. The figures in South Wales, however, are much higher with Swansea and Bridgend’s exemptions at 10 per cent. Mr Davies called on the First Minister to explain the disparity between North and South Wales, and to establish why local authorities in North Wales are demonstrably more hesitant to approve exemptions to the limit.
Mr Davies said at First Minister’s Questions:
“I sent a letter to Denbighshire County Council with a list of proposed highways that constituents suggested for exemption, following a consultation with residents. Denbighshire County Council informed me that they would review these highways, but we’ve had no progress since.”
“My constituents would be grateful if they had an explanation for the disparity between the level of exemptions that are being approved by local authorities in North Wales compared to South Wales, and why they are so slow in North Wales?”
“Could the First Minister please shed light on this issue and explain whether the delay in 20mph exemptions for Denbighshire is due to a lackadaisical local authority? Is it due to obstruction from the Welsh Government? Or is it due to local authorities struggling to navigate the new legislation?”
ENDS.
