Complete guide to how you can lobby for exemptions on 20mph roads in North Wales

The Welsh Government has formally launched a mechanism whereby people can lobby for exemptions on 20mph roads. Transport secretary Ken Skates is urging people to get involved and have their say.

As well as appealing for default 20mph roads to revert to 30mph, people can also press for speeds to be lowered too. Knowing who to write to will depend on where you live and what type of road is involved.

Last month, Mr Skates launched a “national listening programme” and promised a review of exceptions guidance for local councils. As part of this exercise, this week he visited a Flintshire town that’s been at the epicentre of 20mph debate long before the default speed limit became law.

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Joined by Flintshire Council deputy leader Dave Hughes and local councillors, the cabinet secretary walked along Liverpool Road, one of the roads that have caused concerns locally. Cllr Hughes, cabinet member for Streetscene and regional transport strategy, told Mr Skates the review was “much needed”.

Speed limits on around a third of the country’s roads, all in built-up areas, were lowered last September. Exemptions were permitted but the scale at which these were applied varied significantly between different councils.

Other than Cyngor Gwynedd, local authorities in North Wales were generally hesitant and Mr Skates has since said this leaves considerable scope for change. North Wales Live has a WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

Revised exceptions guidance for highway authorities should be ready by July 2024. However the Welsh Government has now confirmed the process of assessing changes is “likely to take several months”. With new road signage also needed, revised speed limits, if any, are unlikely until the end of the year.

Who to contact

Local authority roads

People should provide feedback about local roads by emailing their local authority directly. Below is a list of email addresses for councils in North and Mid Wales.

• Anglesey Council: highways@anglesey.gov.wales

• Ceredigion Council: clic@ceredigion.gov.uk

• Conwy Council: traffic@conwy.gov.uk

• Denbighshire Council: traffic@denbighshire.gov.uk

• Cyngor Gwynedd: cynllun20mya@gwynedd.llyw.cymru

• Powys Council: traffic@powys.gov.uk

• Wrexham Council: 20mphConsultation@wrexham.gov.uk

• Flintshire Council: Flintshire has its own dedicated webpage for 20mph feedback - you can find this here.

Trunk roads

A trunk road is a major route that is the Welsh Government’s responsibility, not the local authority’s. Examples of trunk roads are the A455, A5, A483 and A470. You can view a map of all Welsh trunk roads here.

You can give feedback on trunk roads by emailing TrunkRoads20mph@gov.wales. Or you can send your thoughts to your local authority and, if it’s a trunk road, they will forward them to the Welsh Government. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

What’s required

When writing, you should:

• Indicate clearly and precisely which section of a 20mph road should be 30mph.

• Indicate clearly and precisely which section of a 30mph road should be 20mph.

• Give reasons why you think the speed limit should change.

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