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Response by the Cabinet Member: Thank you for your questions pertaining to the 20mph restricted road speed limit in Wales. As this is a national initiative some of the questions you pose should be directed at Welsh Government directly. Some information is available on their website and I have linked this to those questions Welsh Government would need to respond to if you are not able to find the information online. Mostly we currently don’t know what the changes will be as Welsh Government have not yet produced their revised guidance on setting exemptions. I appreciate that the Ministers announcement may be raising expectations but at this stage I am not able to comment on anything too specific. In response to your questions I offer the following [your questions are repeated for ease of reference]: 1. What were the initial costs incurred in implementing the 20mph zones in Powys? £1,262,687.58 2. How were these projects funded, and from which budgets were the allocations made? Will the reversion affect future budget allocations for other traffic and road safety measures? Welsh Government Grant funded the changes, and it is expected to be the same for any revisions that might happen following the production of the revised guidance on setting exemptions. 3. What data supports the decision to revert the speed limits? Are there statistics on accidents, traffic speed compliance, or pedestrian safety that influenced this decision? We will await the revised guidance on setting exceptions to assess what need to be taken on board when considering what the appropriate limits should be on any given road. 4. Are you aware if any financial analysis or cost-benefit studies were conducted to justify the reversion of speed limits? The assessment and decisions taken by Welsh Government can be seen at 20mph speed limits | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES 5. How will the change affect environmental factors such as noise pollution, air quality, and fuel consumption? See 20mph speed limits | Sub-topic | GOV.WALES 6. Are there alternative traffic calming measures or road safety initiatives being considered to replace or complement the reverted speed limits? There is no funding provided to implement traffic calming measures to ensure the 20mph restricted road limit is complied with. Welsh Government do provide a Road Safety Grant which we could bid for should there be issues with collisions occurring within 20mph restricted roads and where speeding is a factor. 7. Were there specific contractors or suppliers involved in the original implementation process? All signs were procured utilising a framework contract from standard Signs LTD. A specialised road marking removal company was used to remove old markings, Hydroline Ltd. Some lining works was undertaken by Glamorgan White Lining. All other works were provided inhouse by our Highways teams. 8. If so, how were they selected, and what are the financial implications of altering contracts if the same ones are used for the reversal process? Contractors were selected by utilising available contract frameworks or for their specialists service in accordance with our financial standing orders. At this stage, until the new guidance is known we don’t know what the scale of change may be so cannot make any assessment of financial implications. 9. Can you please confirm how the Council will identify which 20mph areas will be reverted back to 30mph, and which 20mph areas will remain? We will assess sections of road under the revised guidance and liaise with County Councillors and Town/Community Councils. 10. Can you please confirm if any of the old 30mph signs were retained by the Council? Most of the old signage was recycled. However, where the signs were undamaged and in good condition, they were stored and have been used in other places across the county. If changes are needed, we will seek to reuse any of these that may be left. 11. If any were retained, will it be possible to use the old 30mph signs to replace the 20mph signs in areas reverting back to the old speed limit? n/a 12. How does this reversion align with the Council’s transportation strategy, and what are the Council’s long-term goals for road safety and community impact? As we don’t know what the revised guidance from Welsh Government will be, we don’t know what effect it may have. As you will be aware I am concerned about the level of collisions within Powys and recently convened a task and finish group to investigate this specific issue. The Council’s transport strategy is currently being drafted in conjunction with Ceredigion as a joint regional plan produced by the Corporate Joint Committee and is closely aligned with Active Travel and modal shift which focuses on behaviour. These are long term policies and 20 mph was always meant to be part of changing behaviours and making our roads safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
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