BUCKLEY residents have sent an open letter to Flintshire Council regarding the 20mph speed limit in the town.

In July, the Senedd voted in favour of reducing the speed limit on residential roads in Wales from 30mph to 20mph - with the law expected to be implemented next September.

Eight pilot areas were chosen to trial the reduced speed limits to date, including Buckley. 

The move has caused considerable uproar amongst the town's residents, with main roads through Buckley, such as Liverpool Road (B5127) subject to 20mph. 

READ MORE: 'I feel so sorry for the people of Buckley' - MS on 20mph scheme

The Welsh Government has said: "The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads, it will simply make the default limit 20mph.

"Ultimately, it will be down to Local Authorities to decide which roads should retain the 30mph limit in consultation with their residents. Together, we are drawing lessons from pilot settlements to look again at the criteria used to keep some roads at 30mph.”

Buckley councillor Adie Drury has now penned an open letter to Flintshire Council over the matter, with has been signed by over 150 local residents. 

It reads: "We are writing to you as residents of Buckley to request an update on what is happening regarding the 20mph scheme in our town.

"We would like to formally request that the council actively engages with the community and listens to the collective voice that has been calling, and is still calling many months later, for the main roads in and out of Buckley to be reverted back to 30mph.

"We understand this cannot happen overnight, however if it was implemented on February 28, 2022, just six weeks after the consultation period ended on January 7, 2022, there is no reason why it should take any longer to repeat the process but for 30mph."

READ MORE: 20mph scheme in Wales not 'anti-car' as Government claims to have learnt from Buckley pilot

It continues: "The residents of Buckley feel ignored and ridden roughshod over. This scheme has not been welcomed and has left a bad taste in people’s mouths for Welsh Labour and Flintshire County Council. This is not to say that bridges cannot be mended with positive action and a collaborative approach going forward that actively involves and engages with the community – an approach Welsh Government deemed vital in ensuring the success of any scheme.

"We would appreciate an update, as soon as is possible, on what plans Flintshire County Council has in mind regarding reverting the speed limits back to 30mph on certain roads in Buckley."

A Flintshire Council spokesperson said: "The council confirms receipt of a letter sent on behalf of Buckley residents in relation to the implementation of 20mph speed limits in Buckley. The council will consider the content and respond accordingly."

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