Issue - meetings

Community: Llanberis and Nant Peris

Ward:  Llanberis

Proposal: Gwynedd Council Order (various County roads, Arfon Area) (30mph speed restriction) 2023

DECISION:

To approve keeping the speed restriction at 30mph on a section of the road on the A4086 and keeping the speed restriction at 30mph on the A4086 between Nant Peris park and ride and Pont Gwastadnant.

Community: Llanberis and Nant Peris         Ward:  Llanberis

Proposal: Gwynedd Council Order (various County roads, Arfon Area) (30mph speed restriction) 2023

a)    It was reported that a Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022 had been made by Welsh Ministers on 13 July 2022 following Senedd Cymru's decision. Before 17 September 2023, local authorities should consider which restricted roads must stay at 30mph. To this end, the Council had introduced a 30mph order for Arfon, Dwyfor and Meirionnydd areas with the Arfon order including an intention to keep the speed restriction at 30mph on 37 sections of the road in the area.

The proposed 20mph Scheme was consulted upon with stakeholders in December 2022 as part of the pre-consultation process where observations were received and changes were introduced to the schemes. Further consultations on the proposed schemes were held with stakeholders and members of the public in April 2023. In July 2023, as part of the statutory consultation process, an e-mail was received objecting to the order for two sections of the A4086 Class 1 Road from Llanberis Community Council (although reasons for the objections had not been submitted).

In response to the objections, it was noted that Officers were of the opinion that these sections of the road should stay at 30mph as the road was a first class road, that the number of houses on the side of the road was smaller than 20 buildings/km and that there were only dwellings without a private access road from the highway on one side of the road and it would affect the emergency services. It was reiterated that the roads in question were currently 30mph and, therefore, the order did not propose any change to the road's current situation. Although officers fully understood the wishes of Llanberis Community Council, those wishes did not correspond with the guidance set out by the Welsh Government. Despite this, the Traffic Unit would continue to monitor traffic on these sections of the road with the intention of reviewing the decision in 6 months.

It was reiterated that the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 had been considered when assessing the proposal.

a)  It was proposed and seconded to approve the exceptions.

b)              During the ensuing discussion, the following observation by a Member was noted:

·         These sections of the road were very short, therefore, keep at 20mph for safety.

In response to an observation about implementing a small 30mph section on Ffordd Pentre' Castell before reducing further to 20mph, it was noted that the Traffic Unit had deemed reducing from 60mph to 20mph as too much of a step and, therefore, a short 30mph buffer had been implemented to reduce speed gradually.

RESOLVED:

To approve keeping the speed restriction at 30mph on a section of the road near Pendre Castell on the A4086 and keeping the speed restriction at 30mph on the A4086 between Nant Peris park and ride and Pont Gwastadnant.