20mph speed limit

28 June 2022

Dear

Request for Information – ATISN 16367

I wrote to you on 14 June regarding your request for information on the recent introduction of a trial 20mph speed limit on the roads around Magor/Undy/Caldicot.

Information requested

You have asked for the following information:

1. What was the rationale behind Magor /Undy / Caldicot areas being chosen to be pilot areas for this reduced speed limit i.e. where the pilot areas chosen because of an already existing high accident rate etc.

2. What success / fail criteria will be used to assess the trial period data and which body will make the assessment?

3. How long will the trial period be for?

4. Who will take any final decision on any permanent implementation?

Our response

I can confirm the Welsh Government holds the information captured by your request.

For question one, all local authorities were invited to become part of the 1^st Phase 20mph scheme and Monmouthshire submitted proposals to be part of it. The bids did not refer to specific roads but settlements and therefore collision statistics weren’t a specific criteria for applications.

The applications were considered by a panel including internal WG officials, independent consultant and academic. Monmouthshire was successful in its bids for Abergavenny and Severnside (including Magor /Undy / Caldicot settlements).

For question two, the 1^st Phase settlements were not there to trial the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits as this has already been proven by numerous research. Moreover, they were set up as forerunners to a proposed national implementation so that any issues could be addressed.

Transport for Wales also developed a Monitoring and Evaluation plan which includes a number of key performance indicators for the 1^st Phase of the 20mph programme. Data, based on the agreed criteria, is currently being gathered and monitored from the 8 settlements which are part of the 1^st Phase.

For question three, the 1^st Phase Settlements scheme was put in place to test the processes prior to the national implementation of the proposed 20mph legislation rather than the suitability of specific roads. Local Authorities taking part in the pilot schemes will each have to consult formally to decide if roads are kept at 30mph or default to 20mph when the legislation is passed.

For your final question, I can confirm that the final decision to determine if the 20mph speed limit stays in place locally will be made by Monmouthshire Council. 

Next steps

If you are dissatisfied with the Welsh Government’s handling of your request, you can ask for an internal review within 40 working days of the date of this response.  Requests for an internal review should be addressed to the Welsh Government’s Freedom of Information Officer at: Information Rights Unit, Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ or Email: Freedom.ofinformation@gov.wales.  Please remember to quote the ATISN reference number above.   

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:  Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.  However, please note that the Commissioner will not normally investigate a complaint until it has been through our own internal review process.

Yours sincerely