The council received more than 1,600 responses from people and groups about roads in in the county and considered 150 sections of A and B roads, which it whittled down to 15, then 11
Eleven roads – or sections of them – could revert from 20mph to 30mph in Carmarthenshire. A consultation will take place on the proposed changes to the A and B roads before further decisions are made. Council officers will also carry out a review of C class and unclassified roads in the county.
The Welsh Government’s default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads was introduced in September, 2023. It was very unpopular in many quarters, but a report before the council’s cabinet said the number of road collisions on 20mph roads in Wales fell by 26% in the first full year after it was introduced, compared to the previous 12-month period.
In April last year the Welsh Government asked councils to collect feedback from the public as part of a so-called listening programme and to see if some roads could revert to a 30mph limit. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here
There were 1,604 submissions from people and groups in Carmarthenshire, including 121 calling for all roads to revert to 30mph, 259 calling for all roads to revert to 30mph except those outside schools and hospitals, and 264 calling for the 20mph limit to remain in place or requesting more speed limits to drop down to 20mph.
Highways officers went on to review 150 sections of A and B roads against set criteria, with only 15 of them meeting it. Then, following a detailed assessment, four of the 15 were deemed inappropriate for a 30mph limit.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on April 28, Cllr Alun Lenny said the 20mph limit had been “hugely controversial” and that it was sensible of ministers to look again at the matter and also fund any changes implemented by councils.
He added, however, that the number of people killed or seriously injured had fallen on 20mph roads to the lowest levels since records began and that the evidence showed motorists were driving more slowly on them than before.
Cllr Lenny criticised the “reckless and impatient minority who care little for road safety”, such as the person who he said overtook him on a 20mph road close to a school last week.
“Just because someone does not agree with a law does not give them the right to break that law,” he said.
The consultation on the proposed changes to the 11 roads will include letters to householders directly affected and feedback from bus operators, haulage groups and the emergency services.
If council chiefs decide to press ahead with the changes, draft traffic regulations order will be published providing a further chance for people to object. At the end of this process the 20mph limit on the 11 roads would either go back to 30mph or remain as it is.
Highways officers will also review “buffer” speed limits on approaches to 20mph roads or sections thereof. The cabinet report said this could potentially result in fewer buffer speed limit changes and a more consistent speed limit regime.
