THE MP for Vale of Clwyd, James Davies, is “strongly against” Welsh Government proposals to make 20mph the “default speed limit in built-up areas” in Wales.

Dr Davies is urging those who feel the same to sign a petition he has launched.

You can sign Dr Davies’ petition by visiting: www.jamesdavies.org.uk/campaigns/labour-welsh-governments-unworkable-proposals-20mph-speed-limit.

Welsh Government plans to change the default national speed limit on roads in built-up areas throughout Wales from 30mph to 20mph on September 17.

The MP is concerned that the changes would “damage the economy of North Wales” and said "there is no evidence they would improve road safety or reduce air pollution as promised”.

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He is encouraging residents to sign his petition “to oppose the 20mph default limit, share any other ideas about road safety, and tell the Welsh Government to instead focus on real priorities, such as health and education”.

Dr Davies said: “I am strongly against these proposals, which I think would be unworkable, unenforceable, costly and deeply unpopular. 

“I believe there is still relatively poor awareness of the plans and that people will not feel that they have either been consulted, or given the plans their backing.

“Roads across all parts of the United Kingdom are essentially subject to the same high standards of design, and our vehicles incorporate continually-improving driving aids and safety features. 

“As a result, our roads are already some of the safest in the world and stand to become safer still through technological progress.

“I don’t dispute that there is a place for defined and realistically enforceable 20mph zones. 

“However, I believe that these should be at specific locations where drivers might otherwise routinely travel at 30mph but pose unacceptable risks of collision – for instance, outside schools and hospitals.”

Dr Davies has also warned that the prospect of different default national speed limits in England and Wales is “neither justifiable nor desirable, especially given the large volume of east-west cross-border traffic”.

He added: “For the first time ever, this separatist speed limit policy, requiring new signage at the ‘national border’, would mean that the Highway Code would cease to apply to the whole of Great Britain equally.

“Welsh Government’s own figures suggest an implementation cost of their 20mph policy of £32.5m to cover publicity, new and replacement signage, and road marking alterations. 

“This is a shocking figure in view of their frequent claim that they are ‘underfunded’.”

Dr Davies is also concerned that travelling at a slower speed will increase congestion, and vehicle emissions and noise, and questioned its enforcement.

He pointed out that the likely failure of the 20mph policy has been demonstrated by unsuccessful trials in Buckley and elsewhere.

He said: “The unpopularity of the proposals was also clear in the Welsh Government’s own consultation exercise over the plans (which it disregarded), where a clear majority was in opposition.

“A petition against the default 20mph limit on the devolved administration’s website was shut down prematurely earlier this month, following the large number of signatories registered.”