Sam Rowlands MS for North Wales is backing a campaign to try and reverse plans to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit in towns across Wales.
Mr Rowlands, Shadow Minister for Local Government in the Welsh Parliament, was responding to an email from a South Wales man who has started a petition against the move.
Mr Rowlands, who recently supported campaigners in Buckley, fighting against this introduction, said it was about time Welsh Government started listening to local people.
He said:
It really is quite alarming to see the Welsh Government riding roughshod over people’s views and not taking any of their concerns into account.
In the email I received it stated that over 50% responding to the consultation on the 20mph limit last year were not in favour of the proposal yet Welsh Government ignored this and rejected the result.
I feel so sorry for the people of Buckley who are having to cope with this 20mph limit and next year many more of our towns will suffer the same fate.
I do support letting councils put 20mph speed limits outside schools, hospitals and other areas where evidence shows it’s a benefit, but not a blanket 20mph speed limit across urban roads in Wales.
Monmouthshire County Council in South Wales have already said they plan to reverse the 20mp to 30mph on some roads which is a clear indication that the proposal is flawed.
It is about time Welsh Government started listening to local people instead of making undemocratic decisions. Meanwhile I urge all authorities to take the same stance as Monmouth council and listen to the locals and make the decisions which affect their residents
The new default speed limit to 20mph, which is due to be implemented in September 2023, will affect 30mph roads with street lights fewer 200 yards apart but this can be overturned by local authorities.
Sam Rowlands AS yn cyhuddo Llywodraeth Cymru o beidio â chefnogi safbwyntiau pobl leol ynghylch 20mya
Mae Sam Rowlands AS dros Ogledd Cymru yn cefnogi ymgyrch i geisio gwrth-droi cynlluniau i gyflwyno terfyn cyflymder 20mya cyffredinol mewn trefi ledled Cymru.
Roedd Mr Rowlands, Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol yr Wrthblaid yn y Senedd, yn ymateb i e-bost gan ddyn o’r De sydd wedi dechrau deiseb yn erbyn y cynllun.
Dywedodd Mr Rowlands, a gefnogodd ymgyrchwyr ym Mwcle yn ddiwedd yn erbyn cyflwyno hyn, ei bod yn hen bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru ddechrau gwrando ar bobl leol.
Meddai:
Mae’n frawychus gweld Llywodraeth Cymru yn anwybyddu barn pobl a pheidio ag ystyried eu pryderon.
Yn yr e-bost a dderbyniais, nodwyd nad oedd dros 50% o bobl a ymatebodd i’r ymgynghoriad y llynedd ar y terfyn 20mya o blaid y cynnig, ond anwybyddodd Llywodraeth Cymru hyn a gwrthod y canlyniad.
Rwy’n teimlo dros bobl Bwcle sy’n gorfod ymdopi gyda’r terfyn 20mya hwn a’r flwyddyn nesaf bydd llawer mwy o’n trefi yn dioddef yr un dynged.
Rwyf o blaid gadael i gynghorau osod terfynau cyflymder 20mya y tu allan i ysgolion, ysbytai a mannau eraill lle dengys tystiolaeth ei fod yn fuddiol, ond nid terfyn cyflymder cyffredinol ledled ffyrdd trefol yng Nghymru.
Mar Cyngor Sir Fynwy yn y De eisoes wedi dweud eu bod yn bwriadu newid y terfyn 20mya yn ôl i 30mya ar rai ffyrdd sy’n arwydd clir bod y cynnig yn un diffygiol.
Mae’n hen bryd i Lywodraeth Cymru ddechrau gwrando ar bobl leol yn hytrach na gwneud penderfyniadau annemocrataidd. Yn y cyfamser rwy’n erfyn ar bob awdurdod i wneud yr un safiad â chyngor Sir Fynwy a gwrando ar bobl leol a gwneud y penderfyniadau sy’n effeithio ar eu preswylwyr.
Bydd y terfyn cyflymder cyffredinol newydd o 20mya, y bwriedir ei roi ar waith ym mis Medi 2023, yn effeithio ar ffyrdd 30mya gyda goleuadau stryd llai na 200 llath oddi wrth ei gilydd, ond gall hyn gael ei wrth-droi gan awdurdodau lleol.
