THE rollout of Wales' 20mph scheme a year ago has led to "antipathy" among motorists, it has been said.

Roughly this time in 2023, Buckley Community Speedwatch group stood down following concerns that volunteers may be on the receiving end of a backlash over the then-recently rolled out 20mph scheme.

It wasn't until May this year that the team resumed activities at the roadside - and monitoring the 20mph zones.

Cllr Arnold Woolley, who leads the team, reflected on the last 12 months and whether he believes the public has now accepted the scheme.

He explained: "An awful lot of people, as we now know, do not support the speed limit in areas they think it should not be limited.

"The blanket [approach] seems to have brought up an awful lot of antipathy towards speed limits in general, hence the character we saw doing 60mph in a 20 zone [in August.]

"It has been a year and the roads, I am afraid, are not safer - and there are reasons for that.

"Partly, I think the conditions of road surfaces have deteriorated.

"And it is also, I think, partly because we now have even more vehicles on the road; they're crowded.

"People know where the fixed speed cameras are going to be because it's published in the press.

"They will slow down for those and then speed up again.

"For the average, decent, responsible competent driver, publishing those camera locations makes no difference at all.

"But it certainly helps the scallywag drivers who are determined their hurry is a greater need than road safety."

A speed gun and, inset, Cllr WoolleyA speed gun and, inset, Cllr Woolley (Image: Archive) Cllr Woolley said he has serious concerns about the general attitude and behaviour of other motorists on the roads.

"Speaking as a driver myself," he explained, "I've seen a pattern of driving in terms of tailgating and lack of signalling.

"The amount of driving I've seen where people aren't making signals at all has increased manifold."

We recently reported on the firmly-held views of two critics of the 20mph scheme - and put their concerns to the Welsh Government.

In response, a Welsh Government spokesman said: "The principal objective of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. 

"We were always aware that the policy would need refinement to get the right speeds on the right roads and our listening programme alongside the publication of new guidance co-produced with local authorities is helping us do that. 

"The latest police road collision data shows that collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads combined are the lowest recorded figures outside of the Covid pandemic with additional data published earlier this year illustrating an average drop in speeds of 4mph - from 28.9mph to 24.8mph.

"So, we know things are moving in the right direction.”