Councils across Wales have been reviewing which 20mph roads could revert to 30mph after a change in Welsh Government guidance. Back in September 2023, the Welsh Government reduced the default speed limit on restricted roads in Wales from 30mph to 20mph.
This decision ignited a massive public outcry and a petition signed by hundreds of thousands of people. Despite the early signs of a reduction in crashes and deaths on our roads there is still a clamour from many for changes to be made.
Councils have always had the powers to keep some roads at 30mph – with some, like Cyngor Gwynedd – making full use of this prior to the change in 2023. They had more ‘exception’ roads that could remain 30mph than all the other North Wales counties put together.
Welsh Government adjusted the guidance last year under Transport minister Ken Skates – with the belief this would see more roads go back to 30mph in Wales.
Wrexham, Flintshire and Anglesey are well underway on the process of making changes.
But it is not the same everywhere with Denbighshire and Ceredigion announcing they don’t plan to make any changes after reviewing their 20mph roads.
This week Cyngor Gwynedd announced which roads in that county are now under review and could go back to 30mph. Unlike other counties – where often dozens of changes are being considered – they only have two additional roads put forward so far, perhaps a reflection on the fact they already have 85 exception roads that have been in place since September 2023. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: “Two locations in Gwynedd are currently part of a 28 day pre-consultation stage in the review process.
“These being the A499 at Llanbedrog and the A496 at Bontddu.
“The proposal being, subject to securing support from the local communities, for the speed limit to return to 30mph from the current 20mph.”
A public consultation on the proposed changes will follow.
List of roads being considered by other counties.
Amlwch A5025 Amlwch, Lon Parys to Ffordd Madyn Benllech, A5025 Bodffordd, A5 approach Bryn Du, unnamed Class 3 road Bull Bay, A5025 Caergeiliog, A5 Bryngwran approach Gaerwen, Lon Groes – industrial estate road Holyhead A5153, Parc Cybi Holyhead A5154, Victoria Road Llanddaniel, A5 approach Llanddaniel, Llanedwen approach Llanddaniel, level crossing approach Llandegfan, Ffordd yr Eglwys Llanfachraeth, A5025 Llanfaes, unmamed Class 3 road from the B5109 Llanfair PG A5025 near park and ride facility Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn, RAF Valley, Minffordd Road Llangefni, Industrial Estate Road Newborough, A4080 Malltraeth approach Pentraeth, B5109 Beaumaris approach Rhosmeirch, B5111 Coedana approach Rhosneigr, A4080 Llyn Maelog approach Talwrn, Old school road (Due to Closed School) Trearddur Bay, B4545 Lon St Ffraid East
Conwy Council has drawn up a list of priority roads that will be assessed. A final decision has yet to be made on the following roads.
B5115 from Brompton Avenue, Bae Colwyn (Colwyn Bay) through Llandudno Road, Bae Penrhyn (Penrhyn Bay) B5115 Colwyn Road, Llandudno to Conway Road, Llanrhos
Bryn Lupus Road, Llanrhos
Rhos Promenade and Marine Drive, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Rhos on Sea)
Glan y Mor Road, Bae Penrhyn (Penrhyn Bay)
B5106 from Gyffin through Tal y Bont B5106 Dolgarrog to Trefriw
A547 Llanddulas Road, Abergele A547 Abergele Road, from Wynnstay Road to the 40mph east of Highlands Road, Hen Golwyn (Old Colwyn) A547 Conwy bridge
A548: Foryd Road and Towyn Road, Tywyn (Towyn) and Bae Cinmel (Kinmel Bay)
B5383: Rotary Way, Hen Golwyn (Old Colwyn)
St Asaph Avenue, Bae Cinmel (Kinmel Bay)
B5113: Kings Drive to Llanrwst Road, Bryn y Maen
B5279 Tyn y Groes Road
Meirion Drive, Conwy
B4406 Penmachno to A5
Conway Old Road to Bwlch Sychnant (Sychnant Pass)
Maesdu Avenue, Deganwy
Denbighshire
The council has announced it has no plans to increase the speed limit on any of its 20mph roads
Flintshire
The council has said that it will begin the process of reverting some roads back to 30mph in July. It said more than 1,000 requests had been received and all had been assessed.
These are the roads which have been nominated to have their speed limit changed. Final decisions on them are yet to be confirmed:
A5026 from Lloc to A5151 A5026 Holway Road/Fron Park Road/Halkyn Road, Holywell A5104 Chester Road to High Street, Saltney A5104 Main Road, Broughton A5104 Mold Road, Broughton A5104 Pontybodkin to Coed Talon A5119 Flint, Northop Road A5119 King Street A5119 King Street to Leadmills A5119 New Brighton A5119 Northop Road, Northop A5119 Ruthin Road, Mold A541 Caergwrle A541 Cefn y Bedd A541 Denbigh Road, Mold A541 Hendre A541 Pontblyddyn B5441 Welsh Road, Deeside A548 Bagillt Road A548 Mostyn Road A548 Oakenholt to Flint A548 Weighbridge Road, Deeside A549 Dobshill to Penrhwylfa Roundabout A550 Gladstone Way, Hawarden A550 Hawarden Road, Caegwrle A5119 Aber Road, Flint Alltami Road, Buckley Aston Hall Lane Aston Road B5121 Brynford Road B5121 Greenfield to Holywell B5125 Glynne Way B5125 Hawarden B5129 Kelsterton Road B5129 Sandycroft B5129 Shotton B5444 Wrexham Road, Mold Bagillt High Street Bannel Lane, Buckley Brunswick Road Bryn Lane, New Brighton Bryn Road, Mynydd Isa Bryn-y-Baal Road to Bryn Road, Mynydd Isa Burntwood Road to Wood Lane Carmel Road Chambers Lane B5128 Church Road, Buckley B5129 Connah’s Quay High Street Deeside Industrial Park Drury Lane Drury New Road Dock Road, Greenfield Evans Way, Shotton Ewloe Interchange Factory Road, Sandycroft Fagl lane Ffordd Llanarth Ffordd Nercwys Ffordd Pentre Bach Gas Lane, Mold Globe Way, Buckley Green Lane East Greenfield Street to Greenfield Road Gwernaffield Road Hall Lane Kelsterton Lane, Connah’s Quay Jubilee Road Level Road B5127 Liverpool Road, Buckley Llinegar Hill, Penyffordd Lower Aston Hall lane Maes Gwern, Mold B5126 Mold Road, Connah’s Quay Manor Lane Industrial Estate Martins Hill Megs Lane Monastery Road Moor lane Mount Pleasant Road Nant Mawr Road, Buckley New Road, Drury Oakfield Road Padeswood Road South, Buckley Pen-Y-Maes Road Pinfold Lane, Buckley Plough Interchange Precinct Way, Buckley Queensferry roundabout Queen’s Lane, Mold Raikes Lane Rhes-y-Cae River Lane, Saltney Sandy Lane, Saltney Spence Industrial Estate St Davids Park Shotton, Woodland Street The Willow Tinkersdale, Hawarden Vounog Hill to Wrexham Road, Penyffordd Wepre Lane to Wepre Drive, Connah’s Quay Whitefarm Road, Buckley Wood Lane to St David’s Park, Ewloe Woodlands Road, Mold
These are the roads set for reversion to 30mph:
B5445 Marford Hill, Marford B5445 Chester Road, Gresford A5152 Chester Road, Acton (A483 – Garden Village) A5152 Chester Road, Acton (Garden Village – City) Ty Gwyn Lane, Acton B5100 Rhosnesni Lane, Acton Jeffreys Road, Borras A534 Holt Road, Wrexham (Hullah Lane to Greyhound) A534 Holt Road, Borras (Greyhound to Link Road) A525 Ruthin Road, Wrexham A541 Mold Road, Gwersyllt A525 Kingsmills Road, Hightown Kingsmills Loop (Old A525) Abenbury Road, Abenbury Cefn Road, Abenbury A525 Marchwiel Road/Bangor Road, Marchwiel A528 Overton Road, Marchwiel A525 Bangor Road, Cross Lanes B5130 Holt Road/Kiln Lane, Cross Lanes B5425 New Road/ Main Road/ Llay New Road, Rhosrobin Plas Acton Road, Pandy B5425 Llay New Road, Llay B5102 Straight Mile/ Croeshowell Hill, Llay Gegin Lane, Llay Higher Lane, Llay Chapel Lane, Llay Phoenix Drive, Brymbo New High Street, Brymbo Railway Road, Brymbo B5101, The Lodge B5426 Wern Road, Minera B5426 Minera Hall Road, Minera B5426, The Wern B5605 Park Road/Newbridge Road, Rhosymedre A539 Llangollen Road, Trevor A539 Llangollen Road, Acrefair B5070, Chirk B5070, Chirk (buffer) B5605 Wrexham Road, Johnstown B5605 Ruabon Road, Johnstown Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Johnstown B5605 Ruabon Road, Ruabon B5605 New High Street, Ruabon B5605 Bridge Street, Ruabon A539/B5605 Ruabon Roundabout B5097 Plas Bennion to Tatham Road Plas Bennion Road/ Copperas Hill Plas Bennion Road (buffer)