Newly elected Senedd Reform Member for Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, Cai Parry-Jones, has written to Cardiff Council urging them to scrap 20mph speed limits on several roads across the city.
In a letter sent to Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, Cllr Dan De’Ath, Mr Parry-Jones also called the slow implementation of previously announced speed limit reversals “wholly unacceptable”.
In March last year, Cardiff Council confirmed that four major roads would revert from 20mph to 30mph following a review of the Welsh Government’s default 20mph policy.
However, Parry-Jones noted only one of the roads has so far changed back to 30mph, with Hadfield Road, Ocean Way and Western Avenue remaining at 20mph.
In his letter, the Reform Wales Senedd Member wrote, “I regard this situation as wholly unacceptable. I would therefore like to ask you to provide an urgent update on the status of these changes, and give a date residents can expect the roads to return to 30mph.”
He also called on Cardiff Council to consider reverting additional roads back to 30mph, highlighting Excalibur Drive, Caerphilly Road and Cyncoed Road as routes which received substantial public support for review.
Mr Parry-Jones said the issue had been raised repeatedly with him by voters from across the political spectrum during the election campaign.
Cardiff Council’s technical review considered 192 roads across the city as part of the process of identifying routes potentially suitable for reverting to 30mph.
The Welsh Government has stated that while 20mph remains the default speed limit on restricted roads, local authorities retain discretion over which roads are more appropriately designated at 30mph.
Speaking at the Senedd, Cai Parry-Jones MS said, “The people who elected me voted for a manifesto that explicitly said the default 20mph speed limit should be scrapped, and I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t represent their views.
“It’s clearly not right that after a review of nearly 200 roads in our city, only one has changed back to 30mph.
“I look forward to having constructive discussions with Cardiff Council and Welsh Government Ministers on this issue.”
