NO speeding fines have been issued to drivers breaking the 50mph limit on Wrexham and Flintshire roads.

The limits were introduced as a trial in June 2018 to cut nitrogen dioxide levels on parts of the A483 and the A494, which were made permanent in 2019.

Transport Minister Ken Skates' decision to issue advisory letters will apply to the following roads, in which the 50mph restrictions were introduced to reduce emissions:

  • A483 Junction 5 to Junction 6, Wrexham
  • A494 Wales/England border to St David's Park Interchange, Deeside
  • M4 Junction 41 to Junction 42, Port Talbot
  • M4 Beaufort Road/Rembrandt Way Overbridge to Junction 26, Newport
  • A470 Upper Boat Interchange to Bridge Street Interchange, Pontypridd

In January 2018, the Welsh Government conceded a case brought by environmental campaign group, Client Earth which said ministers had failed to meet EU targets to cut pollution.

The Welsh Government's latest annual report on roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations in March 2020 said that although the annual trend of NO2 was falling at all five stretches of road, the situation still remained 'complicated'.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government, said: “The 50mph speed limits were introduced to improve air quality standards.

"A phased approach to promoting compliance has been undertaken and issuing advisory notices in the second phase.

"This phased partnership approach will ensure the small minority of drivers who do not comply with the speed limit are given the opportunity to do so before any sanctions are applied.

"We continue to discuss enforcement arrangements with GoSafe and the police."

A spokesperson for GoSafe, said: "We can confirm that we are not currently issuing prosecution notices at these locations using the fixed camera technology. 

"There is no preclusion on police officers enforcing the speed limits, or any other motoring offence, there.

"We are actively working with the Welsh Government and four police forces to issue advisory letters in these areas in the near future, which we will administer on their behalf. 

"We are also working with Chief Police Officer teams across the four Welsh forces to identify whether it is appropriate to implement an enforcement strategy.

"The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) Roads Policing leads’ office will also need to be consulted as part of this process. 

"The absolute goal for all partnership agencies involved in this project is for there to be widespread compliance in these areas, and key to that will be a multi-agency communications campaign to maximise that compliance. 

"We will be advising the public when the advice letters will start to be issued."