Tackling Speeding in Our Communities: String of Limits Cut in Response to Local Concerns

As I've written here previously, as I talk to residents across the Borough it is striking how often the issue of speeding traffic on our residential roads comes up as a primary concern of people in all of our communities. Key to bringing speeds down to safer levels is of course enforcement, and while this is a police responsibility we are working with the police and the Chief Constable has reassured me that he shares effective enforcement as a priority. As far as the Council is concerned, we oversee speed limits on local roads across the Borough, in consultation with the police, and in response to the number of concerns raised with me I launched a review of speed limits across the Borough last year.

I invited Ward Councillors, parish councils and local residents to identify and put forward roads which suffer from the blight of speeding traffic and where road safety could be improved by a reduced speed limit. Rather than looking at sites on a one-off, piecemeal basis, I wanted us to be able to tackle this problem in a consistent, effective and thorough manner and make a real difference for our local neighbourhoods.

A standard assessment process was followed as each route was analysed, with research undertaken into factors such as traffic data, accident numbers and more.

The outcome of the review is that lower speed limits will be introduced on every road where parish councils or local councillors have requested a speed limit reduction. Nearly thirty roads will have limits reduced, while traffic safety measures will also be implemented where it is considered they will make a positive difference.

We have also gathered information which will be used when decisions are made as to where and how to deploy new average speed cameras which we will be introducing for the first time on our Boroughs roads. I am also continuing to encourage people to nominate the road in their area which is worst for speeding traffic, so if you've not done so yet, please take part in my speeding survey.