Politics

Welsh Government updates 20mph guidance

Published

4 months ago

July 17, 2024

THE WELSH Government published guidance on reverting 20mph roads back to 30mph, announcing an extra £5m for councils to make speed limit changes.

Ken Skates, Wales’ transport secretary, told the Senedd more than 7,000 people have had their say after he launched a “national listening programme” on reversing speed limits.

The new guidance says the Welsh Government expects most speed limit changes from 20 to 30 mph will be made on A or B roads, which are typically main or strategic routes.

Mr Skates accepted 20mph “simply makes no sense” on some roads as he recognised the strength of feeling which saw a record 460,000 people sign a petition against the policy.

He said: “I do think that showing humility and patience can dissolve anger and vexation. We’ve been trying to show humility over 20mph and we’ve been patient.”

In a statement to the Senedd on July 16, he said the refreshed guidance will help councils make the right decisions for local roads, particularly when such calls are finely balanced.

He told the debating chamber or Siambr that 30mph could be considered on strategic roads outside urban centres and rural residential roads with no nearby facilities.

Mr Skates said 30mph could also be considered for strategic transport routes, such as important bus corridors with limited pedestrian and cyclist traffic.

The minister said councils will begin to act on feedback from September and will be able to bid for funding to make speed limit changes in line with the new guidance.

But he stressed that 20mph is the right speed limit near schools, hospitals, nurseries, community centres, play areas and built-up residential areas.

Calling for 20mph to be scrapped and replaced with targeted measures, Natasha Asghar claimed the £33m policy is set to deal a £9bn blow to the Welsh economy.

The Conservatives’ shadow transport secretary raised concerns about all the emphasis being “shifted away from the government and onto local authorities”.

She asked: “Isn’t this just a case of the Welsh Government almost washing its hands of this contentious scheme and forcing councils to deal with the flak instead?”

Ms Asghar warned that people across Wales complained of difficulty in submitting feedback via council websites to have their say on speed limits.

The South Wales East MS said: “Some were saying that entering road by road was an arduous task. Some said that the council was not taking feedback. And others were saying that they were told to contact the Welsh Government directly.”

Peredur Owen Griffiths, who also represents South Wales East, recognised the economy secretary’s acknowledgement that mistakes were made in the roll-out of 20mph.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow transport secretary welcomed the “partial u-turn” on the policy, saying the government was too slow to empower councils which led to the loss of goodwill.

Mr Owen Griffiths stressed his party remains committed to the principle of 20mph as he pointed to statistics showing a fall in the number of casualties.

But he said much more needs to be done to ensure a local voice in deciding 20mph zones as he warned that engagement cannot become “another unfunded burden” on councils.

He said: “It’s all well and good to invite people to make representations but how much encouragement and publicity was given to this?”

Swansea East MS Mike Hedges welcomed the guidelines which set out that 30mph limits can be considered on strategic transport routes, particularly A and B roads.

He said: “That’s why they’re called A and B roads – I’ve been saving that to your predecessor continually, who looked at me blank most of the time.”

John Griffiths, a fellow Labour backbencher, said his constituents in Newport East are largely supportive of 20mph but people want certain roads changed.

He raised the example of stretches of the B4245, where the speed limit frequently changes, with Mr Skates recognising the route needs to revert to 30mph.

But Mr Griffiths stressed the benefits of 20mph, saying: “Every single child’s life that’s saved is absolutely invaluable and we need to look at this policy in that context.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

20 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

21 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

Published

1 day ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.