TOWN councillors in Rhyl felt its 20mph roads should remain as such because of the impact any changes could have on schools in the area.

In April, Welsh Government’s transport secretary, Ken Skates MS, outlined plans for “targeted change” to the 20mph limit, which involved consulting with councils on where changes may be suitable.

Mr Skates wrote to Rhyl Town Council seeking its representatives’ views on the 20mph limit, which was implemented on many Welsh residential roads last September.

Minutes from a Rhyl Town Council meeting, dated June 19 and published last week, state: “After a range of opinions were expressed and upon being put to the vote, it was resolved that the consensus view was that all Rhyl roads currently restricted to 20mph should remain.”

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Rhyl’s 20mph roads should not have speed limit changed, town council says

In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, the Journal asked Rhyl Town Council if it could disclose:

  • What exactly councillors were voting on.
  • The numerical outcome of the vote.
  • Which way individual councillors voted.

Rhyl Town Council responded today by saying: “In common with all town and community councils in Wales, Rhyl Town Council received correspondence from Ken Skates relating to a review of the introduction of 20mph speed restrictions across Wales ,and specifically inviting the town council to notify the highway authority (Denbighshire County Council) if the town council thought that a specific road should:

  • “Change from 20mph to 30mph.
  • “Change from 30mph to 20mph.
  • “Stay at 20mph.

“Following debate, it was proposed and seconded that the council would recommend that the existing position should be retained.

“During the debate, members were particularly conscious of the impact that any changes might have on the local schools.

“It was noted that if any member had residents who disagreed with the current restrictions, then they should encourage those residents to write directly to the Denbighshire County Council highways department.”

Regarding the outcome of the vote, the council’s response added: “The council only records which way individual councillors vote where either:

  • “A request for a recorded vote is made in which case the way each councillors voted is recorded within the minutes.
  • “A specific councillor requests that their personal vote for or against a motion is recorded.

“No requests for either were made in respect of this item. The council, therefore, does not hold the information requested.”

Denbighshire County Council previously invited residents to suggest exceptions to the 20mph speed limit.

The council said it would assess all proposals submitted following the closing date, which was Sunday, June 30.

In April, the Journal asked North Wales Police to disclose the number of convictions for speeding on roads in North Wales which became 20mph speed limit roads from September 17, 2023.

North Wales Police responded on May 1 with statistics correct as of April 29 – it documented 192 speeding offences caught by cameras, and 24 officer-issued offences across North Wales.

Rhyl was the only town in Denbighshire to feature on the full list, which included 14 offences on the A548 Russell Road/Rhyl Coast Road, and one each on Vale Road and West Parade.

Mr Skates said earlier this year: “We continue to believe 20mph is the right speed limit in places such as near schools, hospitals, nurseries, community centres, play areas and in built-up residential areas.

“The principal objective of the policy is to save lives and reduce casualties on our roads.

“What I am doing now is listening to what people want for the roads in their communities, and pressing ahead with refining the policy and getting the right speed on the right roads."