CAMPAIGNERS have applauded the defeat of a Tory bid to stop the rollout of the new 20mph speed limit for residential roads in Wales.

The Welsh Conservative motion to stop the planned measure was defeated on Wednesday evening after Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour joined forces to vote against it.

The new speed limit will start on September 17 when most roads in Wales that are currently 30mph will become 20mph, although councils have discretion to impose exemptions.

Christine Boston, of walking and cycling campaign group Sustrans Cymru, said: “Sustrans wholly supports the Welsh government’s bold decision to introduce 20mph default speed limits in Wales, a decision which prioritises the safety and quality of life of its people. 

“As has already been said, this is the biggest change in safety of a generation, and we believe that this measure will help make our communities safer, happier and healthier places to live.”

The Welsh government has claimed that cutting the speed limit on residential roads will protect lives and save the Welsh NHS £92 million a year.

The bid to stop the new speed limit came after the Tories made the expansion of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ultra-low emission zone an issue in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election in July.

Deputy minister for climate change Lee Waters accused the Welsh Conservatives of always being on the wrong side of history.

“They were opposed to the creation of the NHS, they opposed the creation of the minimum wage, they were against the ban on smoking in public places,” he said.

“They were even against votes for women. They’re always on the wrong side of history, and they never learn.”

Plaid Cymru put forward an amendment that allowed the new speed limit to be introduced but with regular reviews of how it was operating.

Delyth Jewell, Plaid’s transport spokeswoman, said: “I think we could all do with slowing down.

“Our amendment calls for continuous reviews of the implementation of the policy and to empower local authorities to be able to make further exemptions.”

Senedd members voted 38 to 15 to reject the Conservative motion and voted by the same margin to support the Plaid amendment.

Road safety campaign group Brake welcomed the new speed limit in Wales. Every day, five people die on UK roads, and a quarter of fatal collisions involve someone speeding or driving too fast.

 Brake's Lucy Straker said: "When we drive at 30mph, our stopping distance is 23 metres. When we travel at 20mph, that goes down to 12 metres. The question we all need to ask ourselves is a simple one: if we’re driving down the road and a child runs out in front of us, would we be able to stop in time?

"When we travel at safe speeds, we reduce the risk of road death and injury and we enable more people to make safe and healthy journeys on foot and by bike.”