Residential roads in Monmouth have been described as racetracks, with vehicles ignoring the speed limits, placing pedestrians at risk.

Speed hot-spots include Hereford Road, Rockfield Road and the Link Road where pedestrains from King’s Wood Gate describe the crossing as "too dangerous" to use.At Monday night’s environmental committee meeting, Councillor Rachel Jupp raised the point that the junction of the Link Road and Wonastow Road would benefit from a 20mph speed restriction; it’s currently 30mph.On 7th August, the Beacon reported that residents of King’s Wood Gate had to cross the busy junction to access a footpath into town on the other side of the road, the alternative was an overgrown pathway through the industrial estate.The Welsh Government has had the power to set speed limits on the country since 2018 and has indicated that it wants to go beyond all the 20mph zones currently found outside schools.First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Local authorities have to have discretion to retain 30mph zones on key arterial routes, but outside that, and in residential areas, we know that 20mph zones reduce speed of traffic, reduce accidents, particularly accidents to children, and we want to see that become the default position right across Wales”.Monmouth currently has two working groups looking at lowering the speed limit in areas around town.The ‘Wyesham 20 is Plenty’ group, championed by Sarah and Ken Breeze, has been campaigning to expand the speed limit outside the school to encompass all of Wyesham and Cllrs Sue White and Rachel Jupp have been looking at the Cinderhill and Drybridge street speed limit.Cllr Rachel Jupp said at Monday’s meeting on 19th August: “We have an opportunity here to start with this particular Wonastow Road problem and expand out into the town as we get more guidance from the Welsh GovernmentCllr Jamie Treharne added that a 20mph speed limit would help policing the area.“My understanding is that there are two working groups and that they should come together and work town-wide,” he added.Cllr Sue White said that there were no speed restrictions on the housing estates, “so they come out of that housing estate onto Wonastow Road and they are doing 40 mph.“Young mothers with young children walk into the road and I am fearful that someone will get knocked over because the tactile dropped kerbs have not been put in right and get flooded when it rains,” she added.“I put an awful lot of work with Highways into that road when they were talking about houses and half the things they promised us didn’t get done.”Chair of the environment committee, Cllr Terry Christopher, who was re-elected unopposed on Monday night, said that the two working groups merger “makes sense to investigate the possibility of a 20mph through out the town”.It was proposed to write to the police to monitor speeds along the Link Road and Wonastow as well as encompassing Rockfield Road and Hereford Road.Cllr Kelly Jackson-Graham of the Wyesham 20 is Plenty said her main concern is safer routes from Wyesham to work, school and the amenities of town. “Currently, children feel safer cycling along pavements to get to school, pedestrians walk alongside and in between idling vehicles along Staunton Road and the Wye Bridge, not to mention the unnerving experience of cycling into town during rush hour (I know from personal experience!). None of this encourages people to leave the car at home. “I am in support of a reduction of traffic speed in residential areas when used in combination with other initiatives such as road design and improved active travel routes. If it is a Welsh Government initiative, I am hopeful that funding will be available to make active travel improvements for residents of Monmouth,” she added.