60mph speed limits to be slashed to 30 in areas that already have 20mph roads

Speed limits on a number of roads which approach 20mph zones are being changed to prevent crashes. Several roads in Neath Port Talbot will see their speed limits change despite opposition from some local residents.

The speed limits on five of the borough's roads will be altered after the change was approved at a council cabinet meeting on July 10. "Buffer" speed limits are being introduced to lower the speeds of vehicles before they enter the 20mph areas.

It means that in a number of areas where 60mph roads lead directly into a 20mph road, certain stretches will be lowered to either 30 or 40mph. This is being done in order to "deter heavy braking which could in turn lead to collisions".

READ MORE: The people who face having 18 'London Shard' sized structures built near their homes

READ MORE: Plans to turn forgotten Neath building in to 36 homes

It comes after the Welsh Government implemented the national roll out of a new default speed limit of 20mph across Wales in September 2023, instead of the previous 30mph limit. The latest changes will come to stretches of five Neath Port Talbot roads where the speed limit is 60mph, including on the Cymmer Road from Cymmer to Glyncorrwg where a buffer speed limit of 40mph will be introduced before the existing 20mph zone, as well as on the B4242 Neath road to Abergarwed.

There will also be a series of 30mph buffer limits introduced on Duffryn Road and Longford Road leading to Farmers Road near Bryncoch, along with another 30mph zone on Gilfach road near Bryncoch. While the changes were approved unanimously by members in attendance at the meeting, it was noted in the report that a number of objections were given by residents during consultation, who felt the move would result in increased travel times on journeys, as well as potential increases to vehicle emissions.

Officers however responded by saying that there was no evidence to suggest pollution levels would increase because of the change, adding that when it came to journey times, as the roads under consideration were country lanes, most of the traffic would already be travelling below the legal speed limit on these sections of the road. For the latest Neath Port Talbot news sign up to our newsletter here.

Find out about planning applications where you live