Anti-20 mph groups across Wales “When I started the petition, I believed the Welsh Government would listen. But after being ignored by my own MS and watching the Senedd dismiss the voices of nearly half a million people, I see that hope was misplaced.
Our services are crumbling – while money is wasted on vanity projects and unused cycle paths. The
2022–27 Transport Plan shows a clear attack on drivers, despite public transport being unfit for purpose.
I’m not standing for election, but I will vote differently in 2026 -more informed and more awake. I urge
everyone who supported this petition: get involved, ask questions, and vote for real change. Your vote is
your voice. Use it.”
Mark Baker
20mph Record Petitioner
Seven in ten Welsh people oppose the default 20mph speed limit, its a vote loser in May 2026
On behalf of: Mark Baker, 20mph record breaking petitioner
20 IS NOT PLENTY: A Group to discuss the Blanket 20mph speed limit (In
Wales)
United Voices – Senedd lobby group (Members group)
Action Against 20mph Speed Limits
20Mph Democracy in Wales
20 Is Not Plenty
ONLY TWELVE MONTHS TO GO UNTIL THE NEXT SENEDD ELECTION: A
CRUCIAL MOMENT FOR WALES
With just a year remaining until the next Welsh Senedd election, the people of Wales
face a pivotal opportunity to choose a government that truly represents their needs
and values.
Recent years have exposed a growing disconnect between the Welsh Labour
Government and the electorate. The failure to meaningfully engage with the largest
petition in Welsh political history, combined with plans to expand the Senedd at a
cost of over £120 million, has fuelled widespread frustration.
Grassroots campaign groups, crossing political lines – have emerged in response,
united by a shared mission to hold government accountable. Through public
research and Freedom of Information requests, these groups have brought to light
the true cost of unpopular policies, like the 20mph speed limit legislation, which was
implemented with little transparency or public consent.
While core public services such as the NHS, education, and transport suffer, the
government has funnelled resources into questionable initiatives, including “Size of
Wales” and well-funded third-party organisations. Active travel policies, heavily
promoted despite their impracticality for much of rural Wales, have highlighted the
growing gap between government priorities and public needs.
Welsh Labour’s 26-year dominance in the Senedd is being re-evaluated by a more
politically aware and engaged public. The upcoming election in 2026 will be a critical
test not just for Welsh Labour, but for the entire devolved system.
As the campaign begins in earnest, we call on all parties to present credible,
accountable, and responsive alternatives. Wales deserves better.
Petition to rescind 20mph speed limit reaches 440,000
It was the biggest petition in Senedd history with the numbers calling for the 20mph default law to be rescinded surpassing the number of people who voted for Labour in the 2021 Senedd election. Labour received 443,047 votes on the constituency list and 401,770 on the regional list. Within 11 days of being set up, the petition had surpassed both those numbers.
The ability of the opposition to gain support from the 20mph policy is hardly surprising – seven in ten (72%) say they oppose the new limit, including half (50%) saying they ‘strongly’ oppose it. This compares to only a quarter of the Welsh public (24%) supporting the policy. 7 May 2026 its time for change.
Rejected petition Repeal The Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Wales) Order 2022
A petition launched in June 2024 to “Rescind and remove the 20mph law” gained nearly 500,000 signatures and was debated in the Senedd on 22 May 2024. Despite public demand, the law was not revoked. Instead, the Welsh Government invited the public to give feedback to local councils on specific roads, with councils launching consultations to identify streets where speed limits could be reviewed and raised. This response did not meet the petition’s clear call for a full repeal.More details
Widespread public opposition – A YouGov poll conducted in August 2024 found that 72% of Welsh residents opposed the default 20mph speed limit, with 50% strongly opposed.
Economic impact – Critics argue that the policy imposes a substantial economic burden. The Welsh Government’s own research estimates that the 20mph speed limit could cost the Welsh economy £9 billion
Implementation Challenges – The rollout of the policy has been criticised for its execution. The Welsh Government allocated only £1.6 million of the £32 million budget to public communication, leading to confusion about which roads are affected. Additionally, inconsistent application across local authorities has resulted in unclear and sometimes illogical speed limit designations.
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue, or if the Petitions Committee has considered one in the last year.
The previous petition, cited, was created in September 2023 and completed in June 2024. Therefore it will not be possible to have a new petition on this matter until late June 2025. https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245548
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards
Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted
- Date submitted15 April 2025
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