NEWLY elected Reform Wales Senedd Member Cai Parry-Jones has called on Cardiff Council to return more roads in the city to 30mph.

Mr Parry-Jones, who represents Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, has written to Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Strategic Planning and Transport, asking for an urgent update on previously announced changes.

Cardiff Council confirmed last year that four major roads would revert from 20mph to 30mph following a review of the Welsh Government’s default 20mph policy.

However, Mr Parry-Jones said only one of those roads has so far changed back, with Hadfield Road, Ocean Way and Western Avenue remaining at 20mph.

In his letter, he said: “I regard this situation as wholly unacceptable. I would therefore like to ask you to provide an urgent update on the status of these changes, and give a date residents can expect the roads to return to 30mph.”

The Reform MS also asked the council to consider further changes on Excalibur Drive, Caerphilly Road and Cyncoed Road, saying all three received significant public support during the consultation process.

Cardiff Council’s technical review considered 192 roads across the city as part of the process.

The Welsh Government has said 20mph remains the default speed limit on restricted roads, but local authorities have discretion to decide which roads are more suitable for 30mph.

Mr Parry-Jones said: “The people who elected me voted for a manifesto that explicitly said the default 20mph speed limit should be scrapped, and I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t represent their views.

“It’s clearly not right that after a review of nearly 200 roads in our city, only one has changed back to 30mph.

“I look forward to having constructive discussions with Cardiff Council and Welsh Government ministers on this issue.”

Pic: Cai Parry-Jones MS on Cyncoed Road.

REFORM WALES has accused the Plaid Cymru Welsh Government of creating uncertainty over future council tax bills after ministers declined to confirm whether a planned revaluation of homes will go ahead in 2028.

The revaluation forms part of wider council tax reform approved under the Local Government Finance (Wales) Act 2024. The Welsh Government has previously said the changes are intended to make the system fairer and more progressive, with regular revaluations every five years.

However, Local Government Minister Siân Gwenllian has said the issue is under review, with further decisions to be set out in due course.

Reform Wales said residents needed clarity at a time when many households were already facing rising bills.

Francesca O’Brien MS, Reform Wales’ Shadow Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, said: “Plaid Cymru’s uncertainty on council tax reform demonstrates a lack of clear decision-making and will do little to reassure hard-pressed households already facing rising bills.

“Reform Wales believes those who pay the bills should have the final say. That’s why we would introduce local referendums on any council tax rise above 4.99%, preventing excessive increases and putting more money back into people’s pockets.”

Supporters of reform argue that Wales’ council tax system is outdated, with property values still largely based on valuations from 2003. They say revaluation could make the system fairer by ensuring households in lower-value homes are not disproportionately burdened.

Critics, however, fear that any revaluation could create winners and losers, with some households facing higher bills depending on how property values have changed in their area.

The Welsh Government has said further details will be provided once its review is complete.

MINISTERS have been accused of failing to ensure political neutrality among media organisations receiving Welsh Government funding.

Conservative Senedd member Andrew RT Davies challenged Plaid Cymru Culture Secretary Heledd Fychan over whether public money should be withdrawn from any media organisation found not to be politically neutral.

The row follows written questions tabled by Mr Davies, who asked whether the Welsh Government considered Nation.Cymru’s output to be politically neutral.

In response, Ms Fychan said the Welsh Government “does not hold a position on the political neutrality of individual media outlets in Wales”, but added that an impartial media was “critical to a functioning democracy”.

She said concerns over perceived bias in print and online newspapers were handled by the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

However, Mr Davies claimed that answer was wrong, pointing to IPSO guidance which says newspapers and magazines are allowed to be partisan generally, including in election coverage, provided the Editors’ Code is not otherwise breached.

Funding question

In a second written question, Mr Davies asked whether the Welsh Government would commit to withdrawing public funds from any media organisations that are not politically neutral.

Ms Fychan replied that it was not for the Welsh Government to determine what constituted a deviation from political neutrality by a media organisation.

She added: “However, as stated previously, we expect all media outlets in receipt of Welsh Government funds to operate without distinct political bias.”

Mr Davies said the answer showed ministers were failing to properly police the use of taxpayers’ money.

He said: “Plaid Cymru separatists are giving certain media outlets taxpayer funds, yet are taking no action to ensure their output is politically neutral.

“They wrongly stated complaints should be referred to IPSO, despite the organisation having no powers to prevent political bias.

“This is simultaneously incompetent and a serious misuse of taxpayers’ money.”

Welsh Government stance

The Welsh Government’s position is that it does not make rulings on the political neutrality of individual media outlets, while expecting organisations receiving public funds to avoid distinct political bias.

The dispute is likely to fuel wider debate over public support for journalism in Wales, particularly where funding is awarded to outlets that also publish political commentary or opinion-led material.