THE Welsh Government is urging local authorities to 'engage' with its communities when deciding which roads will become 20mph zones in 2023.

Senedd members voted in favour of introducing the speed limits throughout Wales back in July.

As such, Wales became the first UK nation to pass legislation to lower the default national speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets from 30mph to 20mph.

The plans have faced great opposition, particularly after they were first piloted in the Buckley area earlier this year.

And a petition in opposition to the plans, launched in March of this year when that pilot began, has recently reached over 45,000 signatures.

Now, ahead of next year’s nationwide roll-out, the Welsh Government is urging local authorities to 'engage with the local community' to decide which roads should remain at 30mph.

Read more: Insecure loads, mobile phone and seatbelt offences uncovered in road safety operation

Lee Waters, deputy minister for climate change, said: "On 12th July the Senedd passed the legislation to change the National Default Speed Limit in Wales on restricted roads from 30 mph to 20 mph.

"Highways authorities are currently preparing for the necessary changes in advance of the 20mph default speed limit on restricted roads coming into force in September 2023.

"The new legislation will not apply a blanket speed limit on all roads, it will simply make the default limit 20mph, leaving local authorities, who know their area best, to engage with the local community to decide which roads should remain at 30mph.

"The Welsh Government has been working closely with highway authorities to design a process for making 30mph exceptions and the Exceptions Guidance.

"The guidance provides a tool to help apply reasoning for making any exception, whilst also taking into account local factors and circumstances. It also ensures a consistent approach is taken across Wales."

Over the coming months, highway authorities will be consulting on all their proposed exceptions to the new 20mph default speed limit ensuring that local people can have their say on the proposals.

To assist with the understanding of where the exceptions will be located, the Welsh Government is also launching an interactive map which will be updated regularly as highway authorities go through the consultation process.