Issue - meetings

For the Select Committee to pre-scrutinise a report regarding a review of the residential 20mph speed limit pilot programme. The report is due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment & Transport at his Decision Day at 2pm on 5 June 2018.

The Select Committee received a report on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding a review of 20mph speed limit pilot schemes (see Item 6 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Members heard that fourteen 20mph speed limit pilot schemes had been implemented since 2012. The review demonstrated there had been an average reduction in speed in those areas of 0.4mph. This was consistent with national research on signed only speed limits. There had been no impact on casualty rates.

Members asked questions for clarification and discussed the findings of the review. Members heard that in the areas where there were reductions this was likely to be where people were driving close to the 20mph speed limit beforehand. It was noted that these schemes were based on signage only. 20mph Zones were different and involved traffic calming measures.

It was noted that the recommendation to the Executive Member was to leave the existing pilot schemes in place, but not implement further schemes.

It was noted that the Police prioritise enforcement of speed limits based on where there is evidence of risk. The policy of the County Council was also to focus our limited resources on evidence based interventions which would have the greatest impact on casualty reduction. If an area of road was reported by residents as dangerous, officers would look into it and give their professional opinion.

Some Members commented that if residents were concerned about speed, an option available to them was to set up a speedwatch group. Other Members commented that speed limits signal the socially acceptable limit and should be used to encourage a culture of lower speeds.

Cllr Simpson proposed amended recommendations to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport as follows:

That the Executive Member for Environment and Transport notes the

evaluation of recent Residential 20mph Speed Limit Pilots and agrees that  that the existing schemes will be retained.

That any future speed limit schemes will be prioritised in accordance with the Traffic Management policy approved in 2016.

This was put to the vote but not carried with 4 in favour and 10 against.

The Chairman proposed the recommendation as given in the cover report. This was put to the vote and carried with 4 against and 10 in favour:

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment

and Transport in section 1 (page 1) of the report.