Speed Limit on the A4161

The request was partially successful.

Dear Cardiff Council,
Being that the speed camera on the A4161 Newport Road is one of if not the most prolific in the UK, I would like to know what any speed studies have concluded both the average speed and 85th percentile speed is on that road in free flowing conditions?
Was the road previously subject to higher speed limit, did any previous speed limit change coincided with the dualing of the road, when the road last have it's speed limit change was the design of the road altered to accommodate this or was it simply the removal of repeaters etc?

Is the speed limit set there consistent with Welsh government guidelines?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Hosking

Cardiff Council

Annwyl Mr Hosking

Diolch am eich cais.

Cyfeirnod eich ymholiad yw: FOI09549

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Dyfynnwch y cyfeirnod hwn os oes angen i chi gysylltu â ni yn gysylltiedig â’ch cais, mae manylion cyswllt y Cyngor isod.

Dear Mr Hosking

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

Your query has been assigned the Reference: FOI09549

Should we require any additional information in order to process your request we will contact you.
The Council aims to deal with your request within the statutory timeframes.

Please quote this reference number if you need to contact us regarding your request, the Council's contact details are below.

Information Governance Team- Tim Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth
City of Cardiff Council - Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd Room/Yst 357, County Hall/Neuadd y Sir Cardiff/Caerdydd
CF10 4UW [Cardiff Council request email]/[email address]

Cardiff Council

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Hosking

Please find attached a response to your Freedom of Information request - FOI09549.

If you have any queries or concerns, are in any way dissatisfied with the handling of your request you have the right to ask the Information Commissioner to review our handling of your request.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team- Tim Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth
City of Cardiff Council - Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd Room/Yst 357, County Hall/Neuadd y Sir Cardiff/Caerdydd
CF10 4UW [Cardiff Council request email]/[email address]

Dear Cardiff Council,
That file is corrupted, I cannot open it.

Yours faithfully,

Alex Hosking

FOI, Cardiff Council

Dear Mr Hosking

Apologies for your not being able to open our response.

Please find below a copy of what was issued to you.

FOI09549
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 about Speed Studies received on 23/01/2017.

Being that the speed camera on the A4161 Newport Road is one of if not the most prolific in the UK; I would like to know what any speed studies have concluded both the average speed and 85th percentile speed is on that road in free flowing conditions?

Was the road previously subject to higher speed limit, did any previous speed limit change coincided with the dualing of the road, when the road last have its speed limit change was the design of the road altered to accommodate this or was it simply the removal of repeaters etc.?

Is the speed limit set there consistent with Welsh government guidelines?

We have considered your request and enclose the following information:

The City of Cardiff Council does not hold any speed studies for this section of carriageway.

Under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 we have the duty to advise and assist our customers. GoSafe Wales are the organisation responsible for speed cameras and therefore will be able to give a record of the speeds recorded at this camera.

Our records date back to 1967 and there is no indication that the speed limit along Newport Road at this location has been amended or changed. Current legislation states that where a road has a system of street lighting, the road is automatically subject to a 30 mph speed restriction unless there is a Traffic Regulation Order and associated road signs that indicate otherwise.

The speeds are consistent with Welsh Government Guidelines.

If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Team- Tim Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth
City of Cardiff Council - Cyngor Dinas Caerdydd Room/Yst
357, County Hall/Neuadd y Sir Cardiff/Caerdydd
CF10 4UW

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Dear FOI,
Thank you , so to clarify the speed limit is set to 30, but there has never been a speed survey there to see how appropriate that speed limit is based on average free flowing traffic speeds?
Given the character of the road and having the most prolific speed camera in the country I thought it might have rang alarm bells.
I aware the repeaters are needed for the speed limit to be 40 but that road is such a high standard that it just seemed to obvious. There also seem to be other roads within the same authority that are 40 and have a lower standard. At least to Jo Driver.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Hosking

FOI, Cardiff Council

Dear Mr Hosking,

As stated in the response document, GoSafe Wales are the organisation that you need to contact regarding the speed surveys.

Kind regards,

Llywodraethu Gwybodaeth a Rheoli Risg / Information Governance & Risk Management
Ystafell 357 Newuadd y Sir / Room 357 County Hall
Caerdydd / Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Ffon / Tel: 029 2087 2087
E-bost / Email: [email address] / [email address]
     Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this e-mail? Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd - Oes rhaid i chi brintio'r e-bost hwn?

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Dear FOI,
I'm confused, GoSafe are the organisation responsible for speed cameras, I'm wanting to know if any speed surveys have been conducted here measuring the speed of all traffic.
Do Cardiff council not conduct speed survey on roads at all or is it just this isn't one that a speed survey has been conducted on, or is it that the body behind speed cameras are also the body who conduct speed surveys in Wales and not the local council?

Yours sincerely,

Alex Hosking

FOI, Cardiff Council

Dear Mr Hosking

Cardiff Council has not undertaken any speed surveys since the cameras were installed, but it is known that GoSafe has done so as part of their ongoing Safety Camera Site Review process. Whilst we are aware of these surveys, we are not the data holder and so we cannot supply this to you as it is available under a FOI request from another public body.

Many thanks

Gwella a Gwybodaeth / Improvement & Information Management Team
Ystafell 357 Neuadd y Sir / Room 357 County Hall
Caerdydd / Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Ffon/Tel: 
E-bost/Email:  [email address] / [email address]

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Dear FOI,

Did you conduct any speed surveys before the cameras were installed?

Yours sincerely,

Alex Hosking

FOI - Improvement & Information, Cardiff Council

2 Attachments

Hello Mr Hosking,

The following surveys have been retrieved, they were in a location not previously available
The cameras were installed in 2013 and these surveys were undertaken in 2009.

Many thanks

Gwella a Gwybodaeth / Improvement & Information Management Team
Ystafell 357 Neuadd y Sir / Room 357 County Hall
Caerdydd / Cardiff
CF10 4UW

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