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The Welsh Government announced today that most local streets in Wales with a 30mph speed limit will switch to 20mph on September 17th.
Most local streets in Wales with a 30mph speed limit will switch to 20mph on September 17th.
Reducing noise is a benefit of the 20mph measure.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said slower speeds "boosts the confidence of people to cycle and walk around their local areas and for children to play outdoors."
Dr. Sarah Jones stated reducing traffic speeds "improves road safety, reduces noise pollution and over time will help to tackle air pollution.”
The change in law was designed after four years of work with local authorities, police, and road safety experts.
Wales will be the first UK nation to reset the default speed limit for local roads.
Spain changed the speed limit on the majority of roads to 30km/h in 2019.
The Welsh Government announced the speed limit change today.
The Welsh Government announced today that most local streets in Wales with a 30mph speed limit will switch to 20mph on September 17th. Along with improving road safety, reducing noise is highlighted as a benefit of the measure. First Minister Mark Drakeford said:
“Our streets will be quieter, reducing the scourge of noise pollution, and slower speeds also boosts the confidence of people to cycle and walk around their local areas and for children to play outdoors.”
Dr Sarah Jones, Consultant in Environmental Public Health for Public Health Wales, added:
“The evidence is clear that reducing traffic speeds has multiple health and wellbeing benefits. It improves road safety, reduces noise pollution and over time will help to tackle air pollution.”
Four years of work with local authorities, police and road safety experts designed the change in law, making Wales the first UK nation to reset the default speed limit for local roads. The move follows a similar approach in Spain where the speed limit on the majority of roads was changed to 30km/h in 2019.
The Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry into Airport Expansion and Climate and nature targets that took place last year and included a recommendation on noise impacts.
Considerations of noise and soundscape are embedded in the Natural Resources Wales State of Natural Resources Report 2025.
In December the Welsh Government(WG) published the outcome of their consultation on changes to permitted development rights (PDR), which includes air source heat pumps (ASHP).
Transport Scotland have published a new Transport Noise Action Plan (TNAP) for 2025 – 2028.
A report commissioned by the Department for Business and Industrial Strategy to look at assessment of noise from onshore wind farms is now published.
The Welsh Government are consulting on changes to permitted development rights including air source heat pumps(ASHP).
As part of their ongoing enquiry into the impact of airport expansion on climate and nature targets, the Environmental Audit Committee will be taking oral evidence tomorrow - Wednesday May 14th.
The Government are seeking views on proposals for changes to the planning process for national infrastructure projects.
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