A TOWN councillor in Kinmel Bay has said she and her colleagues have written to Conwy County Borough Council to suggest that two 20mph roads have their speed limits changed.

Foryd Road and St Asaph Avenue both had 30mph speed limits prior to nationwide changes implemented by Welsh Government last September.

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.

View of representatives of town councils across Wales have been sought on the 20mph limit, including those of Towyn and Kinmel Bay Town Council.

But draft minutes from a full town council meeting on July 24 read that it was “noted that all the 20mph roads in Towyn and Kinmel Bay are at the correct speed limit, as they all fall under the place criteria issued by Welsh Government where it would not be appropriate to increase the speed limit”.

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Despite this, Cllr Kay Redhead (Kinmel Bay ward) said she and her fellow councillors have suggested that Foryd Road and St Asaph Avenue revert to 30mph.

Conwy County Borough Council has asked residents to email their suggestions for changes to any of its roads’ speed limit to traffic@conwy.gov.uk.

Welsh Government’s “place criteria” states that 30mph would not be appropriate on sections of roads which may have significant demand for walking, wheeling and cycling, such as:

  • Within a 100m walk of any educational, community or medical facility.
  • Where the number of residential and/or retail premises immediately fronting a road exceeds 20 properties per kilometre.

It adds that 30mph limits could be used on:

  • Main or strategic roads outside city/town/village centres or high streets.
  • Roads outside other high-density areas and away from other places that attract frequent pedestrian and/or cyclist trips.
  • Roads with low density of housing and/or few houses altogether (fewer than 20 properties per kilometre).
  • Roads with residential and retail premises only on one side and no need to cross the road to access services or facilities.

Cllr Redhead said: “We have emailed Conwy County Borough Council as individual councillors with those suggestions, but under this criteria, I honestly can’t see it happening

“Unfortunately, there are actually no roads in our area that can be requested to be changed back under the strict place criteria.

“Because they (Foryd Road and St Asaph Avenue) are main roads in and out of Kinmel Bay, and although they have in excess of 20 house fronts per km, these houses are well set back from the road, particularly on Foryd Road.

“Foryd Road is also a main bus route along the coast.

“I’m realistic in that the criteria set by Welsh Government means that these roads will remain at 20mph unless they change the place criteria.

“The one I feel we should have the flexibility on, as individual councils, is the 20 house fronts per kilometre, as we know our communities.

“I agree with it remaining 20mph around educational establishments and medical facilities.”

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."