Protest held in Rhuddlan in opposition to 20mph speed limits

The protest, based by the roundabout near the Sainsbury’s supermarket on Rhyl Road, started at 11am on Saturday (April 13).

It has been organised by a group called “Denbighshire says no to default 20mph”, which has more than 400 members on its Facebook page.

From September 17, 2023 most roads in Wales that had 30mph speed limits became 20mph, with then-First Minister, Mark Drakeford, insistent that it will reduce crashes and save lives.

Some 20mph signs in Denbighshire have previously been defaced (Image: Submitted)

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Rhyl resident Sarah Jones, who helped set up the group and organised the protest, said: “About 15 people attended the protest.

“There was a lot of traffic passing and the majority of motorists were very supportive, beeping their horns and waving.”

Hundreds of thousands of people also signed a petition urging Welsh Government to scrap the new blanket 20mph speed limit, meanwhile.

Numerous new 20mph speed limit signs in Denbighshire have also been defaced with graffiti since it came into effect last September.

Last week, Sarah told the Journal: “I understand it in certain places, like outside schools and hospitals – I don’t think most people have a problem with that.

“But personally, I’ve been driving for a long time, and I think I know how to manage road conditions, and I think most drivers are intelligent enough to know how to drive.

“I think it’s leading to driver frustration and aggression, more than anything. I was driving along one 20mph road, and the driver behind me was practically trying to join me in the back seat.

“On some roads, a lot of people haven’t got a clue what the speed limit is now, so they just stick to 20mph where the limit is 30mph.

“It’s like driving in a funeral procession.”