20MPH SIGN FROM WELSH GOVERNMENTS HATED SCHEME VANDALISED EIGHT TIMES

• In Llanrhos, near Llandudno, defaced signs has become a monthly occurrence 
• Conwy Council warned that defacing signs was a criminal act and a safety risk 

A pair of 20mph signs from the Welsh governments hated scheme have been desecrated eight times since September.

The pair of signs are now vying for the title of 'most vandalised in Wales'.

For residents in Llanrhos, near Llandudno, seeing defaced signs has become a monthly occurrence. While some people have taken a dim view of the vandalism, others are pleased to see the 20mph debate still being highlighted.

After the Llanrhos signs were first daubed with paint last September, Conwy Council (CCBC) warned that defacing signs was a criminal act and a safety risk to motorists.

When the local authority said it would be cleaning or replacing the damaged signs, local critics pledged to 'paint them quicker than they can replace them'.

The latest act occurred in the early hours of this morning. Not all lettering was readable but the slogans appeared to read, 'Get them gone' and 'CCBC get it together'.

Previous slogans have included the likes of 'Cymry (sic) Am Byth' (Welsh For Ever) and 'Dictator Wales'.

Sometimes the background is painted white, this time it was black. Green lettering is often favoured.

Despite the cost to council taxpayers in Conwy, one resident supported the vigilante's message, if not the means of delivering it.

'It's a wrong that makes a right, in my view,' he said. 

'People are clearly against it, they have been since the policy was rolled out. But the signs are still there. Some were calling this sort of behaviour a last resort - but I think it's an absolute outrage that 20mph still hasn't been revoked.'

In September 2023, around 7,700 miles of urban and village roads across Wales changed from 30mph to 20mph. More than 30,000 road signs were erected or altered at a cost of £32m.

The move prompted a petition calling for a U-turn that gained almost half-a-million signatures. Conwy has been a hotbed of opposition, with protest convoys still being organised. 

Local anger was fuelled further by figures showing that, over a six-week period this spring, 114 drivers were caught exceeding 20mph at a single location, Glan-y-Mor Road in Penrhyn Bay.

Cardiff has launched a review of local 20mph limits and motorists can contact local authorities with their suggestions.

While the review is ongoing, Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders has called for enforcement in new 20mph zones to be suspended.

Following earlier vandalism of signs in Llanrhos, Conwy Council said: 'Damaging traffic signs is classed as criminal damage and we have made the police aware of the issue. Vandalising signs can put road users in danger.'

Read more

2024-06-23T18:05:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd