The Welsh Government has been accused of “marking its own homework” over their 20mph speed limit review as the chair of the probe is the same person who implemented the policy.
Phil Jones is the consultant who told the Welsh Government how to implement its controversial default 20mph speed limit.
On Wednesday, the Welsh Parliament was told he has been recruited again, this time to review that same policy with the Welsh Conservatives accusing the Welsh Government of marking its own homework.
Natasha Asghar, Shadow Transport Minister, said: “Surely the same people who recommended the Welsh Government should implement this policy should not be leading the review into it, as it will hardly be impartial and a true reflection of reality.
Welsh Government accused of ‘marking own homework’ over 20mph limit review
PA
“The Labour Government will continue to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to this policy and they should scrap this sham of a review, let common sense prevail and scrap the blanket 20mph speed limit.”
On Wednesday, Wales’ Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change said: “I've asked Phil Jones, who's leading the review for us, to consider whether further tweaks to the guidance on exceptions would be helpful, for example, by explicitly including major bus routes as one of the local criteria they can consider.”
In 2019, Jones was appointed by Waters, to head up the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group.
On the policy, Jones previously said: “This is of huge significance – Wales will join Spain as only the second nation in the world to set 20mph/30kph as the default speed limit for built-up areas.
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20mph speed limit sign
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“Overnight it will mean that most roads in Wales will be set at 20mph without local authorities having to make thousands of costly traffic orders.
“This will lead to significant reductions in casualties and more liveable communities right across Wales.”
Mark Drakeford has said for several months the Welsh Government would hold a review into the controversial legislation.
The review of the policy has been echoed by Jeremy Miles and Vaughan Gething who are running to replace Drakeford this Spring. Drakeford announced his resignation as First Minister shortly before Christmas.
The review of the policy has been echoed by Jeremy Miles
GETTYPlaid Cymru says the review should be independent.
“The Welsh Government has to show it's serious about this review that Plaid Cymru successfully called for four months ago.
“This appointment will no doubt be seen by many as the Welsh Government wanting to play judge and jury.
“For its own credibility, the review should be independent of those who played any part with the legislation.
“We need detail about how this review will be conducted, and how it intends to ensure that the further necessary exemptions are implemented promptly.”
The petition opposing the new 20mph default speed limit has had a record-breaking number of signatures – now nearing half a million signatures – and is scheduled to run until March.
The Senedd Petitions Committee will now consider it for debate as it is well over the 10,000 signature threshold. The Senedd's Petitions Committee can hold an inquiry if it chooses, as well as a debate.
The 20mph new speed limit came into place in September 2023 and applies to restricted roads – those with streetlights at least every 200 yards. Enforcement of the new speed limits began across Wales earlier this week, meaning drivers could be fined for breaching the 20mph limit.
The campaign for the 20mph default limit was supported by several Welsh organisations and NGOs including the Institute for Welsh Affairs, Public Health Wales, Sustrans Cymru, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Living Streets Cymru and BRAKE.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “This review, as we set out in October, is looking at how the new default 20mph speed limit has been implemented across Wales. It is not a review into the policy itself which has been overwhelmingly supported by Senedd members from three parties.
“As Phil Jones – a highly regarded transport planner and engineer – chaired the Welsh 20mph Task Force Group, he is well-placed to assess whether clarifications in the policy are needed to encourage greater consistency.”