Welsh government improving air quality

According to Honest John, the Welsh Government has revealed plans for 50mph speed limits for motorways and A roads, as part of a £20m scheme to improve air quality.

A discussion has been launched on strategies for Clean Air Zones. The minister for environment, Hannah Blythyn, has outlined a £20m fund. As part of the Clean Air Zones, local authorities will receive control to end or restrict the most polluting vehicles from having access to the area.

Temporary 50mph speed limits will be enforced within the next two months to help decrease nitrogen dioxide levels.

The following locations will be introduced to the new speed limits: A494 at Deeside, A483 at Wrexham, M4 between Junctions 41 and 42, M4 between junctions 25 and 26 and A470 between Upper Boat and Pontypridd.

The RAC’s head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said ‘Slowing down traffic can help to improve flow, but if there are simply too many vehicles for the road space, then jams are still likely to occur so this is as much a question of capacity as anything else.

‘The issue affecting these two areas, which are both close to urban areas, must be solved in the long term not just temporarily, if indeed the speed limit reduction has the desired effect.’