Wrexham: MP calls on First Minister to scrap 20mph limit

Sarah Atherton MP has called on both candidates running to become Wales’ next First Minister to commit to repealing the Welsh Labour Government’s 20mph policy.

The policy is forecasted to cost the Welsh economy more than £4.5 billion.

Since the new speed limit was rolled out in September, it has sparked significant resistance from residents across Wales. A petition to the Senedd opposing the scheme has secured over 468,000 signatures.

The Welsh Government is still yet to decide a date for the petition to be debated in the Senedd.

With a new First Minister set to be in place in March, the two candidates hoping to replace First Minister Mark Drakeford, Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles,  have committed to reviewing the policy in its current form, despite both previously voting in favour of it as members of the Welsh Government.

Wrexham’s MP Sarah Atherton has actively opposed the policy even prior to its passage through the Senedd and says she has engaged with ‘a large volume of residents’ regarding the new default speed limit.

Sarah Atherton MP fronts rally in Gwersyllt in opposition to 20mph default speed limit (Image: submitted)

She has stepped up her opposition to the new default speed limit and has called on Welsh Labour leadership hopefuls to scrap the policy as part of their pledge to the people of Wales.

Ms Atherton said: “Both Welsh Labour Party candidates vying to replace the outgoing First Minister have a huge in-tray to deal with to even begin clearing the mess that has been left by the outgoing First Minister and his Welsh Labour Government.

“It is shameful that it has taken a leadership election for both candidates to finally listen to the people of Wales, discover their voices and find the courage to support a review into the policy that they both supported as key members of Mark Drakeford’s Cabinet. It is electioneering at its best.

MOST READ:

• Family tribute to ‘loving dad' who died after early morning crash on A483 in Wrexham
• Husband and wife councillors mourning tragic sudden loss of daughter
• Met Office issue fresh weather warning for Wrexham and Flintshire

“The Welsh Labour Government’s disastrous policy continues to be hugely unpopular to the extent that even the most loyal of Drakeford’s disciples are now turning against his legacy policy. Coincidentally, this happens at the exact same time that the candidates need to turn their ears outwardly from the echo chamber in Cardiff Bay to people that matter: the people of Wales.

“I am calling on both candidates to listen to my constituents and residents across Wales more widely, and commit to repealing the 20mph default speed limit.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We introduced a new, default 20mph speed limit in September 2023 to save lives and reduce the number of people injured on our roads every year. This decision was backed by a majority of Senedd members. 

“We have been clear we will continually monitor any impacts of the new default 20mph speed limit on bus services. We continue to work closely with bus operators, local authorities and TfW to tackle the wider challenges facing the bus industry and will bring forward new legislative proposals to reform the sector."