England’s Transport Secretary stated that decisions on road schemes should be left to local communities rather than being handled by her department.
Welsh Government Introduces New Policy
Last year, the Welsh government published new policies to support highway authorities when setting the road speed limits.
Controversial 20MPH Limit
They implemented a 20mph limit to improve road safety and reduce the severity of injuries attained in accidents last September, and they lowered the limit to 30mph.
High Opposition to the New Limit
The residential default speed limit is 20mph, with seven out of ten Welsh people opposing the new limit.
Speed Limit Is Saving Lives
The Welsh government has said that the lower speed limit has saved lives; however, the Welsh Transport Secretary, Ken Skates, said the government will “listen to the people of Wales.”
“Right Speed on the Right Road”
Skates said that they ultimately want “the right speeds on the right roads”, even though the number of collisions was 25% lower compared to the same quarter last year.
“Those Decisions Made at a Local Level”
UK’s Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has firmly maintained that “Those kinds of decisions should absolutely be made at a local level by communities and not dictated to or stoked up by the centre.”
Haigh Can’t Determine the Road Speed Limits Stating “It’s Ridiculous”
She added,”There’s no way me sititng in my office in the DfT can say ‘This road in Chester should be a 20mph road or not’ it’s completely ridiculous, so if they want to do that then that’s got my full backing.”
LTNs Became a Political Issue
Under the previous government, Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) became a political issue when Rishi Sunak ordered a review of the scheme, calling it “hare-brained.”
2020 Funding Was Provided for LTNs
In 2020, the government funded the councils to set up LTNs in various cities across the UK, only for a quarter to be scrapped later.
LTNs to Provide Safer Areas for All
LTNs are implemented to reduce traffic in residential areas while providing dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. They also aim to provide wider pavements and blockades to restrict vehicle access.
Conservative Ministers Wanted to Strengthen Ties With Local Residences and Businesses
The Conservative ministers had aimed to strengthen the regulations to ensure that the councils had the backing of the local residences and businesses.
Haigh Wants to Avoid ”Culture Wars”
Haigh has said that she wants to move away from the Conservative government’s “culture wars” that made transport policy so controversial and gives her “full backing” to local authorities in implementing the necessary schemes.
Previous Government Was Working Against Them
She has said that previously, the local authorities had the government working against them, saying, “No, you’re not allowed to roll out the 20mph zones; no, you’re not allowed to roll out LTNs.”
Local Authorities to Make the Decision
Haigh has shown her support for the local authorities being given the power to roll out the schemes, saying, ” It all has to be done with the communities.”
Funding Would Be up for Review
The Transport Secretary has said that funding will be discussed in the new review and Budget and that they still aim for 50% of short journeys to be cycled or walked.
Target of 50% Short Journeys Walked or Cycled Still There.
She added that it is up to the local authorities to push for the shorter journeys to be cycled or walked, saying, ” That will have to be delivered by the local authorities, so anybody who wants to do that work, they’ll have the Department for Transport’s full backing.”
70 Percent in Opposition
Despite polls showing that 70 per cent of people are against the 20mph limit, Haigh plans to support the local authorities that want to introduce it.
“Local Areas to Decide”
She firmly supports the local authorities’ decision, stating that speed limits are “entirely up for local areas to decide.”
New Attitude, a Positive Change of Pace
This comes as a welcomed change of attitude after Sunak told the Sun last year that a speed limit would be “an attack on the day-to-day lives of most people…who rely on cars to get to work or see their families” and pledged to end “anti-car measures” promising a clampdown on 20mph limits.
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