13. Debate: Introducing 20 mph Speed Limits in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:14 pm on 15 July 2020.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 4:14, 15 July 2020

I wanted to make some of the points about enforcement that Siân Gwenllian made, so I don't want to repeat those, but just to reiterate how important they are to any particular change. There will obviously be consultations and discussions with our communities. I live in a former mining community, and of course our roads were never designed for the volume of traffic, or the amount of traffic that is parked side by side, concealing many access routes. This proposal is essentially about, I think, behavioural change—it is about what is socially desirable in respect of our traffic within our communities. And all I really wanted to say was that I think the proposals will be overwhelmingly welcomed in our communities, where we have density of population and where the safety of parents, grandparents and children is actually paramount.

Can I also say that this is absolutely in keeping with the spirit of the future generations legislation that we introduced, and that this proposal will also bring us in line with many other countries in the world that have already adopted this approach of, basically, community-oriented speed limits?

So, I very much welcome this, but just to reiterate the point that Siân Gwenllian made: that to be effective, it is not just about culture change, but there has to be properly resourced enforcement to make it work. But I know that there are many in my community, those people I represent, who will very much welcome the direction of the proposal here.