David Melding is an avid support of the 20's Plenty Campaign.
20's Plenty is a campaign for 20mph to become the default speed limit on residential and urban streets. This can be done on most streets without the need for any physical calming and on the basis that on some streets it may be appropriate to have a higher limit based on the road, vulnerable road users provision, etc. But any limit above 20mph should be a considered decision based on local circumstances.
Speaking at a conference in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Mr Melding said:
"In England it's happening in so many places - Inner London, Oxford, Bristol, Bath... There are also lots of places in Scotland too.
"Yet, if you look in Wales there's just Cardiff council that is introducing it across the city. Cardiff is the only council to introduce the reduced speed limit in most of its residential streets, compared with more than 50 in England.
"It’s disappointing and frustrating to say the least.
"There's support for it, which is the first hurdle, and now that the Welsh Government has the power to implement this nationally, there’s opportunity.
"In Wales, we theoretically should be in a better position to achieve this ambition, as we have a strong legislative foundation for it.
"Public Health Wales have publicly stated that a move towards 20mph as a default speed limit can deliver on the goals of the Well-Being of FutureGenerations Act
"We have the chance to become a UK leader - even a global leader - with the safest roads, and with some of the highest levels of people undertaking forms of active travel.
"Indeed, only last week I submitted an individual members debate motion along with 4 Labour AM’s, 3 Plaid AM’s, 2 other Conservative AM’s and an independent (ex Plaid).
"John Griffiths – who is here - has done so much to raise this issue in the chamber and I am very grateful to him for helping draft the motion. He is a real champion of the cause.
"But in general, Welsh AMs are responding very positively to the idea, as is evident by the support from our motion.
"The motion was loosely based on the success that Mark Ruskell is achieving in Scotland. And I know that he is meeting some hostility towards the preconceived ideas that comes with his campaign
"And I think this idea all comes down to a conversation. One conversation can overcome the initial negative thinking that comes with the 20mph debate.
"It would mean they could introduce a default 20mph national speed limit and then it would be up to local councils to say which roads in their area should have a higher limit".
