The Welsh Senedd has erupted in heated debate today over the controversial 20mph speed limits, with opposition parties launching scathing criticism of the Welsh Government's policy.
Conservative MS Peter Fox condemned the policy as "misguided", highlighting the £33million spent on implementation as being a waste of resources.
The Welsh Government now faces mounting pressure as councils grapple with the costs of reverting some roads back to 30mph following significant public backlash.
The contentious issue dominated discussions during the final Budget debate, with opposition members questioning the Government's transport policies.
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20mph speed limits were seen to have contributed in reducing road casualties
PADuring the debate, Fox emphasised that Conservatives aren't against 20mph zones entirely, but oppose the blanket implementation which was forced onto drivers in September 2023.
He said: "We are not against 20mph zones. We will work with councils to put it right but what we would do is revert the default back to 30mph."
The policy sparked what Fox described as "the largest protest that the Senedd has ever seen" last year, with thousands of farmers demonstrating outside the building and numerous drivers signing the biggest petition in its history.,
Local authorities are now struggling with the financial burden of changing roads back to 30mph following public outcry, with questions about whether they have sufficient resources.
But the Welsh Government defended its position, with Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford, who introduced the scheme as First Minister, highlighting how the 20mph limits made roads safer.
While not directly addressing the 20mph controversy during the budget debate, the Government has previously maintained the policy was about improving road safety. Recent Transport for Wales data found that there were around 100 fewer people killed or seriously injured on roads with 20mph and 30mph road speed limits last year.
However, Labour MS Alun Davies accused opposition parties of "political posturing," noting they were criticising Government policies while knowing the budget would pass following a deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
The Government has shown some flexibility by allowing councils to review and potentially revert certain roads, but remains committed to the overall policy framework.
Conservative MS Darren Millar echoed Fox's position, describing the 20mph default speed limit as "ridiculous" and something that under the Conservatives would be scrapped.
Millar claimed the policy cost the Government millions and that despite "hundreds of thousands of people opposed" to the measures the Government "put fingers in their ears."
The Conservatives have consistently argued for a targeted approach to 20mph zones rather than a Wales-wide default limit.
They have consistently positioned themselves as defenders of motorists' interests, with Millar including the 20mph policy among Labour's "transport policy disasters" alongside nationalised rail and air services.
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20mph became the default limit on the majority of Welsh roads in September 2023
GETTYThe debate over 20mph limits forms part of a wider disagreement on transport policy between the Welsh Government and opposition parties. Millar described Labour's approach as "an absolute disaster in every single direction" whether "planes, trains or automobiles."
