TALKS that could see greater powers devolved to districts to introduce 20mph speed limits – where appropriate – are to start next month.
A discussion group is being set up at County Hall to look into the matter following lobbying by Worcestershire’s Green Party group leader Councillor Matt Jenkins (Worcester, St Stephen’s).
“The current policy is quite restrictive, you have to show a history of accidents, for instance outside schools, before any change might be considered,” he said.
“However it’s been found that 20mph limits have proved very popular in residential areas – you will always get a majority in favour – and new housing estates these days are designed around 20mph limits.”
County campaigner Martin Ball, who represents the ‘20 is plenty’ campaign group, is among those backing the move.
Martin has written to County Hall proposing that Rod King MBE, who started the 20 is Plenty campaign, does a presentation to the discussion group on the benefits of cutting residential speed limits by a third.
“It’s possible to improve people’s lives and the environment by making this inexpensive change without any real disadvantages,” said Martin.
“In Alvechurch it took us about five long years working with the county to introduce just a short section of 20mph road so anything that would get it done sooner would be welcome.”
He added places with ‘lots of villages’ connected to major road infrastructure could really benefit from 20mph schemes.
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