Sam Rowlands MS hits out at cost of introducing and reversing the 20mph speed limit

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, slams the Welsh Government for wasteful expense on the disastrous introduction of the default 20mph speed limit.

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and a long-time critic of the new law was commenting after a road in Wrexham became the first in North Wales to be reverted back to 30mph.

He said:

“I am obviously delighted to see a road in Johnstown, Wrexham being changed from the ridiculous 20mph back to 30mph, however, it certainly isn’t a cause for celebration.

“The whole bonkers idea has been a total waste of money and the default 20mph speed limit should never have been introduced in the first place.

“Since the policy was implemented in September 2023 it has caused nothing but anger and frustration for motorists and it has impacted on people’s lives and the economy.

“Welsh Government has spent millions on this vanity project making local councils put up thousands of 20mph signs where they were clearly not needed and now taking them down again.

“It really is a crazy waste of money first with its implementation and now reversing some of the decisions. These funds should have been spent where needed on the NHS, education and public services.

“Only this week the Welsh Labour Government failed to rule out any further speed limit reductions in Wales.  There was even some suggestion that speed limits of 10mph or 5mph would be considered.

“Labour’s 20mph speed limit has been a disaster for Wales and any consideration of lowering it further is ludicrous.

“The Labour-run Welsh Government is leading a war on motorists and slowing Wales down."

Pictured - Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales.