Councillors among numbers concerned about 20mph exceptions in Vale of Glamorgan

COUNCILLORS and residents have raised concerns about proposed exceptions in the Vale of Glamorgan to the default 20mph speed limit which will soon be coming into force.

The new 20mph limit, which is being brought in by the Welsh Government to help improve road safety, will be the speed limit in most built-up areas.

However, local authorities can nominate roads which they think should be exceptions to the new restrictions.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has named a number of roads in Barry, Penarth, Dinas Powys and other areas in the county which it thinks should be excluded from the default limit, which is set to come into force on September 17.

At an environment and regeneration scrutiny committee meeting on Tuesday, July 18, residents and councillors made their feelings known about some of the proposals.

One Dinas Powys resident said it is “horrible” having to cross one of the junctions with Cardiff Road – a stretch of which has been put forward as one of the proposed exceptions.

A Barry councillor said multiple accidents have occurred on St Nicholas Road, which has also been proposed as an exception.

Dinas Powys resident Hilary Mary said: “I used to drive my kids to school along Cardiff Road… I would not walk them because it was so terrifying and I would love to think that the next generation could walk.”

Vale of Glamorgan Council has proposed that the stretch of Cardiff Road which comes into Dinas Powys from the west, up until the junction with Elm Grove Road, should remain a 30mph zone.

The council’s operational manager for highways and engineering, Michael Clogg, said the local authority has interpreted the guidance provided to it by the Welsh Government on the new 20mph restriction in a reasonable and proportional manner.

A public consultation on the council’s proposed exceptions closed on July 19.

Commenting on the proposal to make a part of St Nicholas Road in Barry an exception, Councillor Steffan Wiliam, said: “The point I wish to raise is of course my objection made to St Nicholas Road. My point is it is a very dangerous section of road.”

A council report states that it is proposed to make the road an exception from its roundabout junction with Park Road and Porthkerry Road, southwards and south-eastwards, to the centre of its junction with the A4055, Harbour Road.

Cllr Wiliam, who is a ward member for Baruc, said that vehicles often come “careering down the hill around the bend” on the road.

He added: “I really can’t understand why this recommendation is still here.”

In response to Cllr Wiliams’ comments, Mr Clogg said: “We don’t feel there was a significant number of pedestrians or cyclists using the road and mixing with vehicular traffic… for that reason and because there is probably a reasonable amount of highway infrastructure… we decided that that was a reasonable exception to make to the 20mph default.”

The council’s cabinet members will be provided with a further report at a later date on the responses to the public consultation on the proposed 20mph speed limit exceptions.