A RETHINK on the 20mph limit could be considered on “several” Monmouthshire roads following feedback from residents.

The Welsh Government urged the public to contact local authorities last year on where they thought roads should revert to 30mph, following a backlash over the.nationwide 20mph roll-out in September 2023.

Road safety campaigners have hailed the policy, and statistics have shown a reduction in accidents and deaths.

But the “national listening programme” was launched following changes at the top of the Welsh Government early last year.

Monmouthshire Council said it has identified “several locations where a return to the 30mph speed limit may be appropriate”.

“These routes are currently being reassessed against the updated 30mph exception guidance, with a strong emphasis on maintaining road safety for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists,” they added.

Factors that have to be considered include whether roads are within 100m of educational establishments, community facilities, medical centres, and the amount of residential or retail properties fronting a road.

Main or “strategic” roads outside city, town and village centres or high streets, with few houses and where homes or shops are only on one side of the street, with no need for pedestrians to cross, are cited in the guidance as where a 30mph limit “could” be used.

Monmouthshire has also said its approach has been informed by the county having been part of the 20mph pilot, with the lower limit trialled in Abergavenny and the Severnside area.

As a result of that pilot, the 30 mph limit was restored in parts of Caldicot in early 2023 where there had been a number of objections.

Monmouthshire has said it will publish the results of the review in February and any changes proposed will have to go through the process of producing a new traffic order, which will be subject to a formal consultation.

Fewer road deaths and serious injuries - Page 9