This Wednesday the County Council Environment Scrutiny Committee discuss 20 mph zones for outside schools - I've followed up my letters on 20 mph to the County Council with this from the Living Streets organisation (click 20mph Label for more info on the current discussions at the County and my previous letters):One of the key changes that Living Streets has consistently called for over the years is a default 20mph zone in all residential areas. It's a simple enough concept, backed by compelling evidence: the transition from minor to non-minor injuries in road collisions happens at around 20mph. Reducing speed from 30mph to 20mph reduces pedestrian deaths by 95%, and is a massive step towards creating streets that people feel confident using and enjoying. As a national policy seems a way off, it's a great area for our local groups and supporters to campaign on. Here are just three examples of work going on around the country.
Portsmouth is saving costs and creating a big impact by implementing a Traffic Management Order for the whole town rather than a series of smaller zones. This will mean that the 20mph limit will be city wide, with some main roads marked out as being exempt.
Southwark, London is set to follow the example of Hull, currently the UK's leading 20mph city. It will create 'zones', with markings at the entrance and speed reducing features, to ensure the lower limit is self-enforcing. In Hull, these measures have led to a 90% reduction in serious and fatal injury collisions, and they enjoy strong public support.
Newcastle is carrying out a pilot scheme to put up voluntary 20mph speed limits in a trial area. Although this idea means the council could not prosecute drivers breaching the 20mph limit, it hopes to appeal to the 'hearts and minds' of motorists. If it's successful, Newcastle Council will roll out the scheme city wide.
1 comment:
Update 6th March - letter from County confirms we can't have 20 mph zone. Here is my reply:
Thank you for the letter. I am clearly very disappointed with this position particularly as the community has campaigned long over this this - indeed well over 20 years in the case of Randwick - and was given the impression that we were close to getting a 20 mph zone. However I do understand your position. I have therefore been lobbying all County councillors with a letter and have followed up correspondence with a few of them. My blog has several entries re those letters and some of the replies:
http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/search/label/20mph
I await with interest as I understand Scrutiny committee will be discussing very soon the possibility of 20 mph outside schools. I am also waiting for confirmation re the '20 is Plenty' scheme from both Parish Councils - individual councillors have expressed a strong interest but have not as far as I am aware made a decision to explore this option. They both have meetings on 15th March so we may be able to proceed after that.
I look forward to hearing from you re the Main Road and would also welcome advice on what traffic calming measures might be possible for the two Parishes. We understand no funds are available but some measures like Gateways may be possible if we seek funds from alternative sources. It would be useful to have a list of possible projects and priorities so that we can work towards achieving them. How would it be best to do that?
Lastly I'll finish with a couple of examples that I think point the direction we should be going in: Portsmouth is saving costs and creating a big impact by implementing a Traffic Management Order for the whole town rather than a series of smaller zones. This will mean that the 20mph limit will be city wide, with some main roads marked out as being exempt. Southwark, London is set to follow the example of Hull, currently the UK's leading 20mph city. It will create 'zones', with markings at the entrance and speed reducing features, to ensure the lower limit is self-enforcing. In Hull, these measures have led to a 90% reduction in serious and fatal injury collisions, and they enjoy strong public support.
Thank you again for your support in considering the communities proposals. We welcome your openness and time given to this area. All the best - Philip
Cllr. Philip Booth,
Stroud District councillor for the Randwick, Ruscombe and Whiteshill ward,
Post a Comment