SOME roads in Flintshire and Wrexham are set to be exempt from the new 20mph limit.

On Sunday (September 17), most 30mph roads in Wales will be reduced to 20mph - making it the first nation to have a 20mph default speed limit. 

Flintshire and Wrexham councils say they are currently consulting with councillors and residents over which roads should be exempt from the new limit. 

An interactive map on the Welsh Government's website shows which roads in the two counties have been identified as possible exemptions. 

In Flintshire, the following roads have been ear-marked: 

  • Kelsterton Road, Connah's Quay (from Kelsterton Lane to A548 roundabout)
  • B5129 Chester Road (Ffordd Pentre to Queensferry roundabout)
  • St David's Park, Ewloe
  • Liverpool Road (from Rhuddlan Road, Buckley to Mold Road junction, Ewloe Green)
  • White Farm Road, Alltami 
  • Drury Lane, Buckley (from Knowle Hill to Drury Laner Industrial Estate)
  • B5128 Church Road, Buckley (from Chester Road to Maxwell Close)
  • A549 Chester Road, Buckley (from Forest Walk to Mile Farm)
  • A549 Mold Road, Buckley (for 122m on approach to/leaving Wylfa roundabout)
  • A541 Denbigh Road, Mold (for 110m from Factory Pool Lane in the direction of Mold)
  • A541, Hendre
  • A5026 Holway Road, Holywell (from Carmel Road to Whitford Road)
  • B5121 Greenfield Road, Holywell (from Bryn Celyn to Greenfield)
  • A510, Broughton (from Warren Bank to Broad Oak Avenue)

In Wrexham, the following roads have been identified for exemptions: 

  • Llay New Road, Llay (from Llay skatepark to just beyond Llay Cemetery)
  • Long Lane, Brynteg 
  • A525 Ruthin Road, Bwlchgwyn (from Tanyffordd to Vale View)
  • A25 Ruthin Road, Gegin (from Gegin Farm to Old Road, Minera)
  • Gegin Road, Gegin (from A525 to Old Road, Minera)
  • Old Road, Minera
  • Vicarage Hill, Rhostyllen (from B5098 to just beyond Rhostyllen Football Club)
  • A525 Bryn Y Grog Hill, Marchwiel 
  • Small section of A525 Bangor Road, Marchwiel
  • A5, Froncysyllte

Flintshire Council recently revealed how the exemption process works. 

A spokesperson for the local authority said: "Using criteria set by Welsh Government, the council is currently assessing restricted roads in Flintshire. To apply an ‘exception’ to a restricted road, we must have a clear and reasoned case for doing so, which demonstrates that strong evidence exists that retaining a higher speed limit would be safe. 

"Not all existing 30mph roads will meet this test, although it is likely that stretches along some roads will. Proposed exceptions for the roads assessed to date will be formally advertised during August giving people the opportunity to comment on each road proposed to be retained at 30mph as part of a statutory consultation process and formal objections will be invited."

They added: "There will be no deadline for reviewing exceptions, as with all speed limits, it will be an ongoing process as a result of a continually changing environment. After the introduction of the 20mph national legislation in September, local communities will be able to put forward further suggestions for consideration via the council’s website."

Flintshire Council has said the required Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) cannot be legally implemented until after the September 17 2023 following the introduction of the new legislation.

It said: "Until the statutory consultation process has been completed, it is not possible to say how many of the roads listed above will change to 30mph, but for those that do this means that on September 17 they will default to 20mph and will not be changed to 30mph until the Traffic Regulation Orders have been implemented. 

"How long it will take for the traffic regulation orders to be implemented will depend upon the number of responses received to the statutory consultation and the process of formal consideration and response.