Welsh Conservatives will repeal the incoming 20mph speed limit througout Wales if they win a majority in the Senedd elections in May 2026.
The pledge to pull the controversial legislation comes as opponents defaced 20mph speed limit signs in Wales just a fortnight before the new law comes into force.
After that 20mph road signs are being defaced ahead of Labour’s unpopular rollout on the 17 of September with the latest spate of road sign defacements taking place in Conwy, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport Minister, Natasha Asghar MS said, “This should not be condoned, but these ULEZ-style defacements are a clear symptom of the intense levels of dissatisfaction we are seeing across Wales with Labour’s tone-deaf approach to their blanket 20mph zones rollout.
“By their own admission, this policy will cost the Welsh economy £4.5 billion on top of the £33 million headline price tag. Labour have also dropped any reference to environmental benefits, because blanket 20mph zones will likely harm our air quality.”
She added, “Labour’s blanket 20mph zones policy is an atrocious waste of money, will cripple the Welsh economy and will likely harm the environment as it slows Wales down.
“A Welsh Conservative Government would scrap this disastrous policy, end the distractions and focus on the people’s priorities.”
Councils have also been removing and overpainting existing 20mph signs as they will no longer be the exception to the Wales-wide limit and authorities which want to revert to higher limits will have to apply for exception, adding still more cost to the £4.5 Billion scheme.
Welsh Conservatives said they are in favour of appropriate limits outside schools and on some roads but are opposed to the blanket 20mph limit coming into force at the end of next week.
A Welsh Conservative investigation has found examples of a Labour Council removing 20mph speed limit signs from outside schools as pupils return to schools, despite the new blanket speed limit not coming into force for another ten days.
Natasha Asghar MS added, “I am shocked that a council has removed 20mph signs from outside schools, just as children are going back to school after the summer holidays and more than a week before the regulations come into force. This is reckless and irresponsible and will cause confusion amongst motorists and parents.
“People are not aware of the new default and surely these vital signs should have stayed up to keep our children safe? With reports of signs being removed across the country and concerns raised with the Welsh Conservatives about the removal of 20mph signs ahead of the blanket speed limit coming into force, this is putting children’s lives at risk.”
This week, Pembrokeshire Council leader called for a pause in the 20mph roll-out along with delays to increasing the number of Senedd members to save money at a time when the Welsh Government and councils are all claiming they have less money to spend and budgets must be cut.
