Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, has claimed that work on introducing a default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads across Wales, from 17 September 2023, is not causing additional pressure on local authorities across Wales.
The direct impact on local authorities, such as Conwy County Borough Council, is that they have to consider with communities which roads should remain at 30mph, and take responsibility for changing and creating even more road signs, in addition to their usual highway responsibilities, such as responding to planning applications.
Replying to a question by Janet Finch-Saunders MS as to what assessment has been made of the impact of the new 20mph restrictions on the ability of local authority highway departments to respond promptly to planning applications, Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, has issued a response which notes that:
“Varying design speed of carriageways and actual speed of traffic at development sites are two of the many highway development control considerations relating to planning applications. This work remains the same regardless of the default speed limit.
Commenting after receiving the response, Janet said:
“The Welsh Government’s Explanatory Memorandum says the introduction of 20mph speed limits will cost the Welsh economy £4.5billion.
“There is also the direct impact of implementing the changes. Time after time, the Welsh Government introduce legislation that requires more work by overstretched local authorities such as Conwy County Borough Council.
“I am astounded that the Welsh Government are claiming that the varying design speed of carriageways and actual speed of traffic at development sites work remains the same regardless of the default speed limit.
“So that there is complete transparency as to the impact of 20mph preparatory work on local authorities, the Welsh Government should investigate whether their changes has delayed other local authority projects.”
ENDS
Notes:
Written Question by Janet Finch-Saunders MS:
What assessment has the Minister made of the impact of the new 20mph restrictions on the ability of local authority highway departments to respond promptly to planning applications?
Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change:
“Despite our best efforts to shield the public sector from the worst impacts, a decade of austerity, imposed by successive UK governments in Westminster, has stretched budgets to their limits. This has inevitably had an impact on local authorities. Since 2008-09 local planning authorities’ budgets have been cut in real terms by 50%. The biggest cuts have been to development control budgets where spend has reduced by 59%.
Varying design speed of carriageways and actual speed of traffic at development sites are two of the many highway development control considerations relating to planning applications. This work remains the same regardless of the default speed limit.”
Mae Julie James AS, y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, wedi honni nad yw gwaith ar gyflwyno terfyn cyflymder diofyn o 20mya ar ffyrdd cyfyngedig ledled Cymru, o 17 Medi 2023, yn rhoi pwysau ychwanegol ar awdurdodau lleol ledled Cymru.
Yr effaith uniongyrchol ar awdurdodau lleol, megis Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy, yw bod yn rhaid iddynt ystyried gyda chymunedau pa ffyrdd ddylai aros yn rhai 30mya, a chymryd cyfrifoldeb dros y newid a chreu mwy fyth o arwyddion ffyrdd, a hynny ar ben eu cyfrifoldebau priffyrdd arferol, megis ymateb i geisiadau cynllunio.
Wrth ymateb i gwestiwn gan Janet Finch-Saunders AS ynghylch pa asesiad a wnaed o effaith y cyfyngiadau 20mya newydd ar allu adrannau priffyrdd awdurdodau lleol i ymateb yn brydlon i geisiadau cynllunio, mae Julie James AS, y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd, wedi cyhoeddi ymateb sy'n nodi'r canlynol:
“Mae cyflymder dylunio amrywiol ffyrdd a chyflymder gwirioneddol traffig mewn safleoedd datblygu yn ddau o blith nifer o ystyriaethau rheoli datblygiad priffyrdd sy'n ymwneud â cheisiadau cynllunio. Mae'r gwaith hwn yn aros yr un fath, beth bynnag fo’r terfyn cyflymder diofyn.
Ar ôl derbyn yr ymateb, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae Memorandwm Esboniadol Llywodraeth Cymru yn dweud y bydd cyflwyno terfynau cyflymder o 20mya yn costio £4.5 biliwn i economi Cymru.
“Mae gweithredu'r newidiadau yn cael effaith hefyd. Dro ar ôl tro, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cyflwyno deddfwriaeth sy'n gofyn am fwy o waith gan awdurdodau lleol sydd eisoes dan bwysau, megis Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy.
“Rwy'n rhyfeddu bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn honni bod cyflymder dylunio amrywiol ffyrdd cerbydau a chyflymder gwirioneddol traffig ar safleoedd datblygu yn aros yr un fath, beth bynnag fo’r terfyn cyflymder diofyn.
“Er mwyn sicrhau tryloywder llwyr ynglŷn ag effaith gwaith paratoi ar gyfer 20mya ar awdurdodau lleol, dylai Llywodraeth Cymru ymchwilio i weld a yw eu newidiadau wedi gohirio prosiectau eraill gan awdurdodau lleol.”
DIWEDD
Nodiadau:
Cwestiwn Ysgrifenedig gan Janet Finch-Saunders AS:
Pa asesiad mae'r Gweinidog wedi'i wneud o effaith y cyfyngiadau 20mya newydd ar allu adrannau priffyrdd awdurdodau lleol i ymateb yn brydlon i geisiadau cynllunio?
Julie James AS, y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd:
“Er gwaethaf ein hymdrechion gorau i warchod y sector cyhoeddus rhag yr effeithiau gwaethaf, mae degawd o gyni, a achoswyd gan lywodraethau olynol y DU yn San Steffan, wedi ymestyn cyllidebau i'r eithaf. Mae'n anochel bod hyn wedi cael effaith ar awdurdodau lleol. Ers 2008-09, mae cyllidebau awdurdodau cynllunio lleol wedi'u torri 50% mewn termau real. Bu'r toriadau mwyaf i gyllidebau rheoli datblygiadau lle mae'r gwariant wedi gostwng 59%.
Mae cyflymder dylunio amrywiol ffyrdd cerbydau a chyflymder gwirioneddol traffig mewn safleoedd datblygu yn ddau o blith nifer o ystyriaethau rheoli datblygiad priffyrdd sy'n ymwneud â cheisiadau cynllunio. Mae'r gwaith hwn yn aros yr un fath, beth bynnag fo’r terfyn cyflymder diofyn.”
