I recall that the Sennedd backtracked on the blanket 20mph ... but put the onus on Local Councils to decide on any changes... with the rider that they'd be responsible for the considerable cost of reversing the signage (the word was the old signs had been flogged to English Councils!) ... disposing of the old signs and dropping changes onto cash strapped LG were 'spoiling tactics' ... Councils don't have the cash, and if, ten years down the line a kid is run over the Councillors upping the limit would be in the papers being called murderers by irrationally grieving parents (not a good look for re-election) ...the Sennedd decided they wanted to make a statement and when it played so disasterously with the voters have dropped the responsibility onto LG in a way that ensures that things will largely stay as they are but shifts the blame off them ... a massive and smug 2 fingers to the electorate.
K
Ps ... like you, I'd be interested to see properly gathered statistics regarding the 'improved safety' ... so far I've only heard politicians using generic data-less assumptions that 'less speed equals less deaths' to divert annoyed voters
