A temporary 20mph speed limit has been introduced on the A468 in Machen outside the local primary school.
The new advisory speed limit is the first of its kind in Caerphilly County Borough and has been implemented by the council as part of a new trial.
Cllr Rob Gough, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet member for public protection, engineering and transport said: “We have introduced successful 20mph zones outside a number schools in the area, but this would be the first scheme to be implemented on a main ‘A road’.”
Local ward member Cllr Ron Davies welcomed the move. He said: “The speed of traffic traveling through our village has been a concern for a number of years. This new limit will help reduce the speed of traffic and sends a clear message to motorists that ‘twenty is plenty’ outside the school gates.”
Other schemes in the area include a new pedestrian crossing near Bedwas Cemetary and a vehicle activated speeding sign in Machen which flashes a warning to speeding drivers.
I have noticed the School sign in Machen is lit up 24/7/365 !!! They haven't started going to school on a Sunday evening at Xmas time, have they.
I have no problem with a 20 m.p.h. limit outside schools but we should learn from our American cousins. In the USA the limit only operates when school is in session, a flashing beacon advises drivers of this.
When the school is closed the limit reverts back to the road speed limit for that particular stretch of road. To slow down to 20 m.p.h. through Machen at 03-30 in the morning strikes me as ridiculous.