A council trialling the new 20mph speed limit on roads has said it will restore the old 30mph limit after people had objected.
Monmouthshire Council introduced the slower speed limit in eight areas earlier this year as part of a trial ahead of a Senedd decision to introduce 20mph as the national speed limit on residential roads in Wales. But the limit has caused chaos for some residents and in May many motorists in Caldicot spoke to WalesOnline about their frustrations with the plans.
The Welsh Government has since clarified its rules around the default speed limit and Monmouthshire announced in July that it would revert back to 30mph in Caldicot.
But with further comments from residents through August, a new report put before cabinet member for highways, Catrin Mably, is recommending the council press ahead with reintroducing the 30mph limit.
A section of the B4245 between Woodstock Way and the Castlegate roundabout will revert to the 30 mph limit as well as a section of Caldicot Road between the Castlegate roundabout and the bridge over the former railway line to Portskewett. In addition, a part-time 20mph speed limit will be implemented on the B4245 outside Durand Primary School at school start and finish times.
The Welsh Government’s project officer for the 20mph limit agreed with the proposals based on advice around where exceptions could be made dependent on the layout of local roads and their use. The final decision is due to be confirmed in a decision by Cllr Maby to be issued on Wednesday, November 30.
The council will also confirm the 30mph “buffer” on the B4293 heading north out of Devauden, where there is a 20 mph limit, will also be extended to include a bus stop used by the school bus. No objections or comments were received in response to the proposal.
The 20 mph pilot in Monmouthshire’s Severnside cost £243,790 which was funded by the Welsh Government while the introduction of the restored higher speed limits is expected to cost around £10,000 which the council will meet from its highways budget.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said a 20mph public attitudes survey showed almost two thirds of people were in support of the new lower speed limit. They added: "The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads, it will simply make the default limit 20mph. Ultimately, it will be down to local authorities to decide which roads should retain the 30mph limit in consultation with their residents."
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