‘20S PLENTY WHERE YOU LIVE’ (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

‘20S PLENTY WHERE YOU LIVE’

September 12, 2011 11:43 AM

Liberal Democrat Councillors urge the Labour Cabinet to ensure that all residential areas should be made safe for all road users and that the safety on the roads must be one of the Council’s primary concerns.

Kirklees Liberal Democrats support 20mph zones

In a motion to be debated at the meeting of Kirklees Council on Wednesday 14 September 2011, Liberal Democrat Councillors, will urge the Labour Cabinet to ensure that all residential areas should be made safe for all road users and that the safety on the roads must be one of the Council's primary concerns.

Changes to rules announced recently by Department for Transport make it easier for local councils to introduce 20mph speed limits. In 2009 the Department recommended that all residential roads be made subject to 20mph.

Cllr Christine Stanfield says: "I can foresee,the are many benefits of the 20mph speed limit. As evaluation from the Portsmouth scheme (Dept of Transport Interim evaluation 2010) shows, the limit to 20mph would create a safer environment with less aggressive driving. Financially, the motorist will save money, with less repair bills from wear and tear of their vehicle in the long term."

The option of a having short lengths of 20mph speed limits say outside a school may result in drivers speeding up significantly once they have passed the particular zone. Therefore, I support the introduction of a more consistent approach over an area consisting of several roads."

Therefore, we are requesting that Kirklees Council :-

Instruct appropriate officers to prepare a feasibility study in relation the introduction of "20's plenty where you live" across Kirklees with a view to making all residential roads in Kirklees subject to a 20mph speed limit - if this speed is considered appropriate where children go to school, it should also be appropriate where they live;
Instruct appropriate officers, as part of the feasibility study, to explore options for empowering and involving the community in monitoring and enforcing the 20mph speed limit through such initiatives as "speedwatch" and to engage with the police as part of this process to determine how they would be willing to support/assist such groups/initiatives.

Cllr Christine Iredale says: "I would like to see Kirklees roads transformed with significant improvements in the levels of residents walking, cycling and using public transport". Reducing the speed limit to 20 mph in our residential roads will provide residents with a real choice in how they travel by removing the fear of fast traffic from community streets."