Came across some interesting YouTube videos. You may recall I wrote about a campaign to get a blanket 20mph speed limit in villages (20 mph Maybe, Maybe, Maybe) in Suffolk. Well this post is an expansion on that. There were two videos, one was a presentation that was given to, and this is an assumption, by the campaign leader (Adam Berendt) to Parish Councils. This is the presentation
This was followed by a second YouTube video. They called it Webinar, which is a seminar held over the internet, whereas this was a video conference where various Parish Councils asked questions of the campaign organisers,
Both are very interesting but the tenor of the two is to get Parish Councils to sign up to the campaign and resolution and put pressure on the County Council(CC) to relax their attitude to the introduction of a 20 mph limits across the whole of Suffolk Villages. Try as I may I cannot find the suggested resolution but perhaps it was contained in the invite to the Webinar/VC. Some interesting things come out in the two videos.
- We have often heard, especially from CCs that they don’t wish to introduce 20 mph limits because they will not be enforced. A 20 mph limit if introduced properly is law and should be policed in the same way as any other limit.
- 20 mph limits are self policing in as much as they will reduce the average speed of the cars that drive through them. OK it may not reduce the car speeds to 20 mph but it will produce a reduction.
- One of the main things which stop Parish Councils requesting a 20 mph limit is cost. I have seen it written that if you want to get a 20 mph limit introduced it needs to be self financed by the Parish Council. A 20 mph limit, if it is not to be advisory, must have a Traffic Regulation Order. This is costly, £10,000 (?), but that cost can be spread around neighbouring parishes if they wish to introduce such a limit collectively. For example if Shottisham, Alderton, Hollesley, Sutton and Bawdsey wish to join together that cost would be £10,000 spread around four parishes. If you look at the number of residents in the five parishes it works out at a one off cost of about £2.33 per head. Not bad cost to make our streets safer.
Take a look at the two videos. If you have an issue with them not appearing with a click on the hyperlink then copy the address and pop it in your browser. If you don’t have the time to look at both then look at the first one all the way through. It is a presentation. Check out the local Parish Councils who attended the second. The closest to us was Melton. Now I know that the initiative appeared on the agenda of some of the Peninsula Parish Councils’ meetings, but most of the agendas appeared to be for July and ‘to discuss’, so I doubt if they joined the two conferences/presentations.
It is clear that Suffolk County Council have a thing against 20 mph limits and for the life of me I cannot understand why! In 2021 the Liberal Democrats, Green and Independents put forward a motion to the Suffolk County Council proposing calling for a mandatory speed limit in the residential streets in the county’s towns and villages, with 30mph being allowed only in exceptional circumstances. Surprise, surprise, this was rejected
IThe County Councillor for this area, Andrew Reid, stated that a 20 mph limit would not be enforced. Key word is ‘would’, not ‘could’ but ‘would’ which is a twist on the commonly held belief that a 20 mph cannot be enforced. Why? I ask. Is he saying that the Suffolk police would not enforce a 20 mph limit or is it that it is not feasible to enforce a 20 mph limit. I have news for him on either of these. Police have a duty to enforce the law and a 20 mph limit backed by a TRO and proper signage (not sure I like that word) is enforceable. The Metropolitan Police will enforce a 20 mph where a car is going > 20 mph plus 10% + 2 mph (24 mph). In a North London borough the police issued over 7000 speeding tickets for 20 mph excesses in a three year period à peu près. I have come across Mr Reid before and whilst I am apolitical, and tend to vote on the candidates election promises etc, I will never vote conservative because of him.
Mind you it is not only the County Council that will create an uphill struggle for Suffolk villages trying to implement 20 mph limits. The Suffolk Police seem to have a similar dislike. I found this on the Little Bealings Parish Council Website.
Click to access Speeding-Guidance.pdf
Couple of things on here it does clearly explain the difference between a 20 mph zone and a 20 mph limit. In essence a 20 mph zone does not have an enforcement order but has traffic calming measures.
Another point says,
“To achieve compliance there should be no expectation on the police to provide additional enforcement beyond their routine activity, unless this has been explicitly agreed.”
I think this is quite positive. So the enforcement of a 20 mph limit will be part of their routine activity, so may be I am changing my view on this document. A 20 mph limit would be enforced (take note Mr Reid) and would be normal routine activity!
It is not all good news because later in the document it says,
Police enforcement in 20mph limits and zones will not routinely take place but may be appropriate if:
- There is clear evidence of significant non-compliance, or
- Injury collision history supports such action
Hold on, did it not say earlier that 20 mph limit would be part of routine activity. Uphill struggle again. Perhaps I am taking this out of context.
The Word Health Organisation says that where people and vehicles mix the speed limit should be 30 kph (20 mph). There is a force of opinion that says, 20 mph limits are safer cause less deaths and are good for the environment. 20 mph should be a forgone conclusion for his village. Let us hope the majority of the Suffolk Parish Councils vote to support the initiative by the organisation 20 is Plenty and especially those on the Peninsula and if not perhaps it is up to other organisations to take up that cudgel.
Over the last couple of days our esteemed leader Sunak has said that he is on the side of the motorist, and will review of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. He is also said to be thinking about making it more difficult for local councils to introduce 20 mph limits. I am absolutely flummoxed. Why is he doing this. Maybe it is to revive his flagging vote spread before the next election.
Update before publication. One Parish Council on the Peninsula has joined the 20 is Plenty initiative. Good for them, let us hope they all and the rest of Suffolk, join.
Shottisham Blog 