THE rollout of the 20mph across Wales has been labelled "a waste of time and money" amid plans to start reverting roads back to 30mph. 

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has issued his thoughts after Flintshire County Council and Wrexham Council began launching consultations on roads to revert back to 30mph. 

The controversial law was introduced in September 2023 and was met with resistance up and down the country, with over 500,000 signing a petition calling for the rollout to be scrapped. 

When Ken Skates was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and North Wales, he acknowledged that things needed to change and went about giving local authorities the power to revert roads they deemed fit to change. 

Following months of accepting suggestions from members of the public, both councils in Wrexham and Flintshire have began to launch consultations for plans to revert roads back to 30mph. 

Sam Rowlands MSSam Rowlands MS (Image: Polly Thomas)

Mr Rowlands, was commenting after the First Minister, Eluned Morgan, said she had visited a road in Flintshire which will be switched back to 30mph.

He said: “I have said many times since this nonsensical law was introduced that it should be scrapped, particularly as public opinion is strongly against it.

“Half a million people signed a Senedd petition against the policy, but this was totally ignored by the Labour-run Welsh Government and they pressed ahead without considering the terrible impact on our economy.

“Motorists are sick and tired of the continuing saga which has been a complete waste of time and money, and now the Welsh Government are fudging the issue even further.

“This law should be scrapped immediately, and local authorities should be making decisions on road speeds in consultation with local people.”

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A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The principal objective of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads. 

"We always said 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.  

“There have been fewer collisions on 20mph and 30mph roads combined this Spring compared with last Spring . They are the lowest Spring figure ever recorded outside the Covid pandemic. So, we know things are moving in the right direction.”