Wed, 22nd July Cardiff 21°
Nation.Cymru wordmark
Advertisement

Opinion

What next for the record-breaking Senedd petition opposing Wales' 20 mph default speed limit?

By Emily Price
A screen grab of the 20mph Senedd petition.

Emily Price

The petition calling for the Welsh Government to scrap the new 20mph default speed limit is the most signed petition since the Senedd was created back in 1999.

The previous most signed petition in Senedd history was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic and called for the Welsh Government to allow non-essential items to be sold in supermarkets during lockdown.

The "non essential items" petition amassed 67,940 signatures whereas the petition to "rescind and remove the disastrous 20mph law" has now reached an eye-watering 448,000 signatures and shows no sign of waning.

But what happens next for the record breaking petition and how does the process of a Senedd petition actually work?

A person looking to start a Senedd petition must live in Wales and have the backing of at least two people.

At the 250 signature milestone, the Petitions Committee will decide what they can do to help - this can include pressing the Welsh Government for action.

At the all important 10,000 signature mark, the Petitions Committee will decide whether to ask for a debate in the Senedd chamber - but this is not guaranteed.

It's safe to say the 20mph petition has not only reached these two magic numbers but it has raced past the mark, leaving smoke and dust in its wake.

But where are all these signatures coming from and are they all valid?

There is no standing order or requirement for signatories of a Senedd petition to live in Wales and in the case of the 20mph petition signatures have so far been recorded from over 60 countries.

Petition signatures from other countries were a feature of a previous Senedd petition calling of a ban on greyhound racing. This was thought to be because the controversial issue is one that has been widely campaigned against in other parts of the world.

If the majority of signatures on a Senedd petition are recorded from outside of Wales, the Senedd Petitions Committee would take that factor into account when considering it for debate.

[mid-content-banner]

Investigation

With the 20mph petition, an investigation was launched to look at where signatures were coming from and if the system was being tampered with in any way.

The investigation found that there has been some small scale duplication of signatures and some rather bizarre names recorded such as Rupert the Bear.

Overall though, the majority (around 94%) of the signatures recorded came from people in Wales with valid postcodes and email addresses.

In short, there has been no overwhelming evidence of tampering with the Senedd petition system in respect of the 20mph petition.

So why is the 20mph Senedd petition still gaining signatures even though it's met the 10,000 threshold?

A lesser know Senedd petition which called for the Welsh Government to reconsider the roll out of the 20mph speed limit gained over 20,000 signatures.

It was closed early by the petitioner so the Welsh Government could debate the issue before the new speed limit came into force.

With the more recent record breaking 20mph petition, things are slightly different as the new default speed limit already exists. The fact that driving at 20mph is already a part people's day to day is likely the reason the petition has attracted so many signatures.

It's worth noting though, not all Senedd petitions just become active with no questions asked and there is a criteria that must be met before a petition can go live.

During the first week of the 20mph speed limit roll out there was an influx of Senedd petitions being  rejected.

Here's a flavour of the some of the petitions that were refused:

  • "Call an election as the public no longer have confidence Mr Drakeford is acting in our interest."
  • "Remove Mark Drakeford from Government."
  • "Mark Drakeford to resign as First Minister."
  • "A new referendum vote to abolish the Welsh Government for good."

So why were they refused? If a petition concerns an issue that calls for someone to be given a job, lose their job or resign, or is a petition that calls for a vote of no confidence, the petition will be rejected.

The record breaking petition meets the Petitions Committee's criteria because it calls for support from signatories on an issue that the Welsh Government are directly responsible for.

So what happens next for the 20mph Senedd petition?

When it reached the 10,000 mark and became eligible for a debate, an automatic email was generated to the person who launched the petition inviting them to end it early.

However, the petitioner has expressed he wishes to let it run all the way up until its scheduled closure in March meaning any debate wouldn't take place in the Senedd until the spring.

Chair of the Petitions Committee, Jack Sargeant MS has said that due to the significant number of signatures he plans to recommend that the petition goes for debate - although he can't guarantee his request will be approved.

If the Committee are in agreement, they will write to the Business Committee in the Senedd with the request and a date for debate will be scheduled.

The Welsh Government takes the process of a Senedd petition seriously and a debate will most certainly raise awareness of the issue and could even influence changes in the policy or help shape a review of the road regulation.

So will a debate result in the 20mph limit being scrapped? Although debates don't always end with the petitioners desired outcome, Senedd petitions are powerful things in Wales.

They act as vehicle to get important issues on the floor of the Welsh Parliament, this in a nutshell is the whole point of democracy.

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Get more trusted Welsh news

Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News to see more of our journalism.

Choose Nation.Cymru as a preferred source in Google News

41 comments

Silenced!

Dismissal. Laughter. Derisions. Scepticism of the origin of signees. Fading into history, an artefact of backwards looking Tories and their wedge issue lies. A testament to self interest, gullibility and resistance to positive progress

Reply
TomTom82

This new law was first suggested by a tory AM. As for positive progress? To me, going slower is anything but progress.

Reply
David

Were those names in Wales on the electoral register in Wales?

Reply
Alun Gerrard

Why should they be on any roll ?

Reply
Karl

Because it is to be debated by our Senedd. We elect those MS's. So it is for the voter of Cymru to be represented only.

Reply

In reply to Karl

Kraag

Well said. Too much interference.

Reply
Jeff

I have a particular account that used to give me 11 emails. I am sure there are many other ways, exclude the duplicates, how many Mr Drakeford etc. IP dresses match, would be interesting to see how many signed singular. The way this took off, really does smell of manipulation and I fully expect the usual suspect Cons backers to have had a go at this. Press included. Now if Mr Davies is hanging his hat on a poll that could have been manipulated then Indy Wales next.

Reply
Llyn

Here's what will happen. There will be a debate relating to this petition; the Welsh Government along with local councils will by then be adding many more exemptions to the 20mph roads; the law will not be repealed and many on the British nationalist right/far-right in Wales (who remember have never accepted the will of the people via the referendums that set up the Senedd and through their words see all Senedd elections as illegitimate) will then say ha ha we don't have any democracy so now the Senedd must be abolished (having never thought it should have existed in the first place).

Reply
Alwyn Evans

I would hope that the petition WILL be debated not only by the Petitions Committee, but that Jack Sargeant's proposal will allow it to be once more debated at Senedd level. However, what REALLY needs to happen is that the 22 County Councils actually do the job that they should have done in the 4 years since the original decision to proceed with 20 mph default. The inconsistencies already identified (among the mass of blanket rejections) , for instance between county council boundary locations, and where arterial routes are unnecessarily impaired, need to be ironed out, and an analysis of the TRUE effect upon traffic speed and safety to be examined.

Reply
Llyn

I agree. There will be a debate and not just in the Committee. From Lee Waters recent interviews I think he realises that he needs to give the local authorities the confidence to make be able to confidently make more exemptions.

Reply

In reply to Llyn

Alwyn Evans

Llyn, they have the powers already. Laziness and slovenliness is the mak of many of these tinpot county councils who have had FOUR years to prepare

Reply
CapM

In order to sign a petition you have to enter a postcode. It's not so much the email addresses that need to be checked but the distribution of postcodes. This would identify if there are any odd clusters or non residential locations.

Reply
Jeff

Wondering also, I am thinking how many corner shops or hotels have signed this without knowing....

Reply
Barry Pandy

Why?

Reply
Y Cymro

This petition means very little if those signatories signing are from outside of Wales. Would they have the same reaction if the Tories did similar in England? Simple answer. No. And if not, why not? Are those signing not able to think for themselves is the question that needs answering. But I ask this question. Where was the outrage when the English Tory government made that white elephant HS2 an "England and Wales" infrastructure build robbing of billions where both Scotland & Northern Ireland will receive consequential over its lifetime. Where were you? (A tumbleweed bounces by, the silence is deafening). And where were the alleged 400k signatories, allegedly from Wales when those like me signed a petition calling for the devolution of the Crown Estate seeing the only ones to benefit was the then Prince Charles and English Treasury that again robs Wales billions that could go to help those neglected & impoverished valley communities. Yet again you nail biting reactionists were nowhere to be seen or heard? Why is it that those hostile to the 20m0h speed limit are only proactive when they are told to be by the English media. They seem incapable of thinking for themselves unless the red top Tory print & TV pull their puppet strings via the Sun, Daily Mail, Telegraph & Express and by those on scumbags on GB News. Similar tactics were used when voters in Wales were fooled into self-harming with Brexit. Leaving Europe has been an economic and democratic disaster for Wales, but hey, scrapping the 20mph default speed in built-up areas saving lives back to 30mph is way more important to those busy going nowhere wanting to travel a teeny weeny bit faster. I see those type of people daily. They speed until they reach a speed camera, then slow down, before speeding off again. Well done, I say sarcastically. You got to the lights before the cyclist. It's worrying when those likely hostile to this policy get their news largely from social media and information from the Welsh Tories, who whipped them frenzy because captain cardboard Andrew RT Davies along with Tory central office tells you that your liberty & freedom to speed is under threat because that extra 10 mph means so much to you. Yeah, tell that to the family of the dead child hit at 30mph that your liberty means more. Could be you family member one day. I myself know this all too well having two sisters nearly killed crossing the road in the 1980s. They were lucky to survive, others are not so fortunate.

Reply
Blodyn Tatws

Cymru is not an island. People travel both ways across the border with Wales to work, North to South Wales, visit families etc. Labour supported by Plaid Cymru have got this wrong at great cost to the taxpayer. Yes there are areas where 5, 10,20mph are applicable but a default 20mph hasn't been thought out and a lack of competence and common sense is being shown by Labour supported by Plaid Cymru. Please rethink and you owe the working people of Wales who pay tax an apology.

Reply
Llewz

The people who owe the taxpayer an apology are the numbskulls who vandalise the new 20 mph signage. Petulant behaviour.

Reply
Tracy lewis

Correct. Isn’t tourism supposed to be promoted here in Wales why wouldn’t or shouldn’t people who have or want to visit have an opinion on a policy that will affect them!

Reply

In reply to Tracy lewis

Karl

I visted France, Spain, Croatia and Norway in recent times. Do I get a say in policy there? It is a Cymru voter only debate. Because our Senedd serves those living here.

Reply

In reply to Tracy lewis

Kraag

Do I have say in devonian policies just because we visit? Of course not. If the tourist don't like our policies so be it.

Reply
Gareth plas

Here we are on the day that Sunak tells us this will never happen in England. Reaching out no doubt to all the potential Tory voters in Cymru who will then disregard the fact that, at its inception, the 20 rule was welcomed and promoted by the Welsh tories. Allegedly 1 in 6 people in Wales have signed the petition. How about changing the focus here to…,,no police, no social services, broken NHS, broken courts system, local authorities not doing their jobs, crap roads, a country bullied and ignored from a power base in another state. No? It’s another example of Tory poo stirring where truths are hidden and distorted.

Reply
Llyn

There is no 'blanket' 20mph limit. To claim it is, that's ridiculous.

Reply
Gareth

I am shocked to see that Rupert the bear has signed this petition. A speed limit of 20 mph is good for wildlife, giving them the chance to escape while also giving drivers time to react. Shame on you Rupert. And the English press and the right wing take this petition seriously.

Reply
Alun Gerrard

Why not ask any decent question? Example : Demand another election for or against the dismissal of the Senedd / WG. Voters to be listed on the ER.

Reply
Alwyn Evans

I presume you mean a referendum? We had an election not only in 1999, but again in 2021. Labour won 30 seats. Conservatives, who two years earlier had introduced the 20 mph limit, gained 5, and now have 16. Plaid gained 1 and hold 13. The only parties that opposed 20 mph, the Brexit Party and UKIP, lost all their seats

Reply
TomTom82

So, the Welsh government allows people from outside Wales to petition the assembly on an issue it backs and then claims foul play when the same outsiders petition against the assemblies newly made law? Didn't see that coming. Next, it'll be moronic accusations of the Russians being involved.

Reply
Iago Traferth

Scrap petitions, they are counter productive, the ballot box is democracy.

Reply
Annibendod

Definitely an unpopular opinion here that has seen my comments deleted but here goes for the hard of hearing - 500,000+ PEOPLE ARE NOT ALL TORY STOOGES. STOP INSULTING THEM. ACCEPT THAT THERE IS LEGITIMATE CRITICISM OF THIS NEW LAW. In fairness, Alwyn Evans has nailed it with his comment above. Yes, LA's need to make sure that arterial routes are kept flowing - the WG need to show leadership and make this happen. There are a bunch of reasons why WG should take the views of the Welsh electorate seriously on this - it brings into doubt that this specific law has popular support which in turn calls into question whether or not the law will be respected and policed correctly. Secondly, it is also a matter of the reputation of the Senedd and the Welsh Government. Very few people question the limit in residential side streets or around schools etc - what people are frustrated about is getting to work, childcare, care visits, deliveries, home and so on in time. Do the right thing WG and make sure LA's apply for the exemptions where needed.

Reply
CapM

Of those " Very few people question the limit in residential side streets or around schools etc" I've heard none admit that pedestrians are not just confined to "residential side streets or around schools etc," I suppose that if they did admit it a big part of the foundation for their argument crumbles away. Care visits are already so tightly timetabled that many care workers are stretched to meet appointments with a 30mph limit. It's not the fault of the limit whether 30 or 20. It's the large, remote and often foreign owned care businesses who are primarily concerned with profit. Delivery vans are charging around, a significant number of which are half empty or less due to many people who are either impatient or haven't planned ahead insisting on short time or even same day delivery, 20mph limits might mean the impatient and the disorganised wait longer but there are less delivery vans on the road and drivers have better working conditions. Again a group often pressurised in order to deliver higher profits for others.

Reply
Alwyn Evans

I’d agree, Annibendod - so WHY won’t the petition proposer allow his petition to go forward?. The only two reasons I can think of are 1. Malice and 2.Personal perverseness? Where are the examples of LOCAL pressure on county councillors to DO THEIR JOB?

Reply
Pobun

The LAs have already had exemptions allowed and there will surely be more. The main reason people petitioned in my opinion is because of the use of the term blanket 20mph limit. It is anything but that! So much so, that I followed a car doing 20 on a 40 mph road that hadn't changed, surely influenced by the belief that every road was now 20mph I drive across Barry regularly and it has not made a noticeable difference to my journey and most drivers seem to be abiding by it. Most of the arterial roads in Barry have remained at 30 or 40 as before and only the most residential and pedestrian busy of those have reduced speeds, with some it should have happened ages ago. I do not deny anyone their opinion but please get the accurate law and not the media and Tory (especially), hyperbolic take on it!

Reply
Karl

Valleys towns and villages all have houses on main roads. Are our needs of cleaner air and safety inferior? Because local to me, people want my road back to 30 (not that they ever did as low as 30). And keep their side streets 20. Selfish behaviour and I am sick of it. Vehicle users have created an unsafe enviroment around our homes, tough titty as they say.

Reply
Alison Roebuck

When where We THE PEOPLE were asked????

Reply
CapM

If you or any of the rest of "THE PEOPLE" live in Cymru and are eligible to vote you were asked in the last Senedd election. The introduction of the 20mph limit was in the Labour manifesto. If you or any of the rest of "THE PEOPLE" could vote and didn't vote you haven't really got any grounds for complaint. If you or any of the rest of "THE PEOPLE" voted Labour your support of the 20mph was implicit. If you or any of the rest of "THE PEOPLE" voted other than Labour well tough that's democracy.

Reply
Alwyn Evans

You have been - Labour manifesto 2021 election

Reply
Karl

In the manifesto for Labour at the last election. So we the people voted for the party and manifesto. I support it, but don't vote Labour. So loving thirony of fools who take little interst in the parties they vote for.

Reply
Edd.

Roads are for cars, pavements are for pedestrians. When pedestrians are crossing roads and not on a zebra crossing. The pedestrians need to look up from their phones and iPads and check for traffic both ways. The responsibility is not with the driver but with the pedestrian while crossing. Stop this nonsense.

Reply
CapM

Anyone would think that vehicle on vehicle or vehicle on street furniture etc collisions never happen. I expect insurance companies could collectively be able to provide a total number and financial cost of such incidents. There's also the inconvenience to the driver, whether it's just a broken door mirror or a right off head on. It's reasonable to think that at 20mph both the number and extent of damage to vehicles due to collisions that don't involve pedestrians etc will be less that it is under 30mph limits. An advantage of the 20mph limit to those persecuted drivers who'll now be less likely to damage their vehicles and possibly lose that important no claims bonus.

Reply
Blcollier

If that’s your attitude then I hope to god I’m never around you when you’re driving, you sound like a collision waiting to happen. You’re also objectively wrong. In case you hadn’t noticed, the Highway Code was updated last year giving all road users greater responsibility over the safety of those more vulnerable than they are. Cyclists have greater responsibility for the safety of pedestrians, as pedestrians are more vulnerable than cyclists. Car drivers have a greater responsibility for the safety of those more vulnerable than they are: motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Drivers of larger vehicles also have a greater responsibility for the safety of those more vulnerable than *they* are: cars, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians. And so on. This selfish “me first” attitude is quite possibly the biggest danger that exists on our roads. An incalculable number of lives would be saved if people were willing to show patience and share the roads, instead of making their journey the single most important thing in their life.

Reply
Twffr

Roads are for everyone! This point of view is way out of date. And dangerous

Reply
Kraag

What a fuss about very little. It seems to be almost mass hysteria. Most roads are still the same so why the huge fuss? Obviously there will be teething problems and some will change but I've not noticed much difference at all as I'vetravelled around. Why do so many think speed is exceptable. After so many crashes outside and into my home I'm delighted they have to slow down now.

Reply

Leave a reply

Replying to Tracy lewis Cancel

Correct. Isn’t tourism supposed to be promoted here in Wales why wouldn’t or shouldn’t people who have or want to visit have an opinion on a policy that will affect them!

Comments are reviewed before they appear.