READERS have been getting in touch with us to give us their views on the 20mph speed limits in Wales - one week after they were first introduced.

As of last Sunday (September 17), the majority of residential roads in Wales changed from 30mph to 20mph.

The Welsh Government says the move will help save lives and also hope that it can encourage people to walk or cycle to work.

But, the change has been met with strong opposition with a petition so far gathering over 398,000 signatures (correct at time of writing) and rising.

Readers have been getting in touch with us one week on from the introduction of the new speed limits to tell us how life has changed for them.

Scott Willis from Connah's Quay, who runs Willis Cleaning Services, said: "I run my own business and all my employees say they won’t be able to do as much work as it will take longer to travel from job to job."

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Mandy Nottage told us: "I've seen more accidents over the past couple of days than before! Over taking a bus at 20mph it was a sketchy one and the people who already do 20 in a 30 have now been so kind to drop it to 10mph with literally push bikes over taking. Nothing to do with safety. Put it to 20 in residential streets and by a school, I get that, but the main roads - absolutely pointless."

Paula Frances from Wrexham said: "As well as car drivers, Any one who uses a bus will be adding far more to their journey time so bus time tables will need updating at a cost too. Driving instructors and driving test routes. People who learn to drive in Wales. Police ambulances and fire brigade can now only respond at maximum of 40mph (blue lights on) on a 20mph road so in an emergency their response time will be significantly delayed. The list goes on and on."

Donna Craven-Hayman said: "Biggest waste of tax payers money EVER. 20mph on roads next to schools or parks…. Good idea, proven to save lives as they’re accident hotspots, but everywhere there are 30mph roads? I don’t understand where the justification comes from.

"It’s already hard enough within the Wrexham area to get from A to B because of congestion at peak times and poorly planned road closures. But accidents will still happen due to the state the roads are in. People paying their taxes aren’t getting the road worthy surfaces to use their vehicles on in the first place."

Peter Leslie said: "Has any thought been given to the effects on the Welsh economy of people deciding to avoid Wales for holidays and days out, including Welsh people living close to the border, choosing to go into England for shopping and days out rather than having to put up with driving at 20mph?"

Laura Klimaszewska added: "I live in Coedpoeth, to get into the village will be challenging in good weather, nigh on impossible in the snow which we all know is highly likely.

"I agree with the 20mph in high risk areas (outside schools, retirement homes etc) but why has it been rolled out nationwide (albeit with a few exceptions…)?"

Others were willing to just get used to the changes, like Richard Sefton who argued: "The journey from Mold to Wrexham would take approximately one more minute to make. Sorry, but if you know the limit has changed and you are late for an appointment because you leave at the same time, surely that’s just careless?"