Written by Lisa Baker
Since the implementation of the 20mph legislation in September 2023, protest groups have gathered across Wales to voice their concerns – with multiple protests already having taken place on the steps of the Senedd after nearly 500,000 people signed a petition against the legislation, as well as regional protests that have taken place across Wales.
As the first anniversary since the introduction of the policy approaches, new Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has voiced intentions to scrap the policy and says she is listening – but so far protest group leaders say there is little evidence to support that statement.
United Voices – Senedd Lobby Group, which has organised 14 of the Senedd 20mph protests to date, is just one of many protest groups across Wales voicing the anger and frustration that many drivers feel.
Annette Jones, the leader of the group said in a statement:
“Nothing has changed other than the problem being deflected onto Local Authorities who then have their hands tied by the guidance from the Welsh Labour Government.
“With more signatures on the petition than Labour votes at the last election, you would think we would not continue to feel ignored by our leaders. One thing is certain, we have not forgotten, we are not getting used to it and the only place we are going is around Wales in a Wales-Wide convoy as the one-year anniversary approaches.
Annette explained that the Group’s “Around Wales Protest” is being organised with the support of many of the localised protest groups so that all parts of Wales have the opportunity to join in and make their voices heard. The entirely peaceful protest and celebration of driving will take place over two days, 14th and 15th September 2024 and will see Welsh drivers driving all the way round from West Wales, round the North, down the East and back along the South to the West, finishing in West Wales, with drivers joining and leaving at scheduled stops as the protest heads through their region. The exact final route will be confirmed nearer the date – please let the organisers know if you plan to join.
The protest will conclude with a large gathering on the Senedd steps on the actual anniversary of the legislation on the 17th September from 1-4pm. Plans are well underway with a great many people already signed up to link with the protest as it travels across Wales and also to welcome the Ministers back from their Summer Recess as they return to the first plenary session on 17 September.
20mph Petitioner Mark Baker said:
“A whole year since my wife and I stood with the campaign group on the steps of the Senedd to hand in the petition, we are no further forward despite plenty of headline-grabbing gestures and empty promises to ‘listen’. Despite assurances to the contrary, I believe the only people the Senedd have been interested in listening to is Sustrans.
“I’m beyond angry, disappointed and disgusted at the behaviour from the Welsh Government under three leaders since that day last September. The one thing worse than ignoring nearly half a million voters with a bigger majority than you have is to patronise them, to issue misleading stats and to pay lip service to delivering change or caring about the views of those who elected them. I am grateful to the support groups and organisers for taking this campaign forward. I’m fed up, disillusioned and fearful for the UK, and hope that someone, somewhere holds an investigation into the massive funding that has been channelled away from other priorities across Wales into Sustrans. We have people dying in A&E corridors and unused cycle paths across Wales. Net Zero and vanity projects from this Government are crippling Wales, and I hope this convoy illustrates just how unhappy Welsh drivers are now.”
Annette continued:
“The Welsh Government continues to congratulate one another on how the released figures prove their decision to implement the 20mph legislation was correct.
“However, the Welsh Government appears reluctant to acknowledge what the data provided actually highlights, which is an increase in deaths and serious injuries across all roads combined for the first 6 months of available data. In Q4 2022/2023 there was an increase of 6 deaths and 26 serious injuries and in Q1 2023/24 there was no decrease in deaths AND an increase of 10 serious injuries.
“The Welsh Government need to explain to the Welsh public why this trend has occurred since the implementation of The Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) Order 2022 and also explain to the Welsh taxpayer how this fits in with the claims of saving the NHS £92 million per year.
“Whilst the group has never felt like they were alone in holding Welsh Government to account, we are delighted that the ULEZ group from London want to join us and add their additional support to the Convoy.
“The group fully supports the aims of the convoy in carrying out a peaceful but high profile drive around Wales to show that we are still not getting used to the legislation. We need the Welsh Government to listen to our concerns and act on them – and we also want to illustrate to Ministers just how much people living here rely on and enjoy driving.”
“We are inviting Members of the Senedd to come out and talk to us at any one of the start, breaks and finishing points of the Convoy. We will offer them a friendly welcome and an opportunity for a two-way discussion.”
To learn more about the convoy route or the event on 17 September at the Senedd, please email unitedvoicesslg@gmail.com or join the United Voices – Senedd Lobby Group on Facebook.
