THE NEW 20mph speed limit could deliver another blow to the country’s flagging bus industry, a Welsh transport expert has warned.

A joint statement from Welsh Government, councils and bus providers this February confirmed the intention to "transition away from emergency-style funding", some three years after the first Covid lockdown.

Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters MS confirmed another £46m in transitional funding in June, which he said would prevent a "mass cancellation of services", to replace the Bus Emergency Scheme which ended in July.

And now, in an opinion piece for Nation Cymru, Professor Stuart Cole CBE has explained how bus operators will suffer from the reduced speed limit which means they have no choice but to run services at slower speeds.

“Bus passengers will have to face longer journey times on urban routes. Companies will require additional vehicles and driver shifts if the current bus service frequency is to be maintained,” said the University of South Wales professor, who has also produced reports for the Welsh and UK governments.

“Imagine the delivery of fresh bread usually between five and six-thirty each morning. The route timing is based on vans travelling on near-empty roads at up to 30mph.

“The reduction to 20mph reduces van and driver productivity leading to increased distribution costs and possible increased bread prices to the customer."

County Times: 20mph speed limit comes into force on September 17 (Image: PA)20mph speed limit comes into force on September 17 (Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Natasha Asghar MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, has said the professor’s piece highlighted the “lack of thinking” the Welsh Government has done on the 20mph policy.

“The concerns raised by Professor Stuart Cole highlight even further the lack of thinking the Labour Government has done on this policy,” Ms Asghar said.

“For over a year I have been saying whether it’s our emergency services reaching incidents, people taking longer to get to work, delivery vans taking more time or cuts to bus routes to accommodate the longer time – this ludicrous policy is going to impact every part of everyone’s lives.”