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In little more than six weeks, the new 20mph default speed limit will be rolled out across Wales.

On Sunday September 17 Wales will become the first UK nation to introduce a new default 20mph speed limit on restricted roads.

The Welsh Government is behind the plans and is working with police forces, local authorities and even fire services to enforce the new speed limit.

Once the changes are introduced, police will be deployed to pull over speeding motorists, while fire service personnel will offer them the chance to watch an educational video instead of facing a fine.

However, this has drawn criticism from South Wales East Senedd Member Natasha Asghar, who is also the Conservative shadow transport minister.

Ms Asghar described the deployment of fire service personnel as a “madcap policy” that will “spread a stretched public service even thinner”.

She said: “The priorities of our fire service should not include catching motorists speeding. the Labour Government are showing that this foolish policy is not about safety or the environment, as they have claimed, but using public services to catch out motorists and collect money in fines.

“What service will they fold into it next, paramedics? The Labour Government should listen to Welsh Conservative calls and scrap this ludicrous policy.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are working closely with our emergency services partners and other agencies to educate drivers about the benefits of slower speeds.

“Delivering road safety sessions has always been a key part of a fire officer’s role. They attend more calls to rescue people from road traffic collisions than they do for house fires and are best placed to educate drivers.”

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s group manager Richie Smart said: “Our firefighters see the devastating impacts that road traffic collisions, including those in built up areas where people and vehicles mix closely, can have. We are therefore pleased to support our partners to raise awareness of the importance of speed limits to keep everyone safe.”