The Scrutiny Panel reviewing 20mph speed limits is holding the first of its public meetings on Tuesday January 19, between 10am and 12noon, at Hove Town Hall.
 
Brighton & Hove City Council has set up the cross-party Scrutiny Panel to undertake a review to investigate the effects of reducing the speed limit in some residential and built-up areas of the city to 20 mph.
 
The other public meetings will be held between 10.00 and 12noon on the January 26, February 11 and February 23. Brighton and  Hove residents, community groups and local organisations are encouraged to give evidence to the panel, and the meeting on February 23 will be designed primarily for local people to come along and give their views on speed reductions in their local area.
 
Speed reduction initiatives could include either redesigning roads within the city to include traffic calming measures, or simply reducing the default speed limit on roads to 20 mph through the use of signs.
 
The panel will look at the evidence available on the effect of 20 mph speed limits and 20 mph zones on road safety, and the consequences of speed reductions on traffic movement and displacement. The Panel will make recommendations on the future development of council policy on appropriate vehicle speeds in the city.
 
Councillor Pete West, the panel's chair, said:
“The safety and well-being of local residents and visitors to the city is a high priority for the council. Ensuring that the speed limit on our city’s streets is appropriate will go a long way to increasing the safety of our roads.”
 
The panel will also seek to address the environmental consequences of 20 mph speed limits on the city’s air quality, carbon emissions as well as noise levels. It will investigate the other benefits that 20 mph speed limits may bring, such as increases in public health, stronger community relations and better walking and cycling conditions.
 
Anyone who would like to give evidence to the panel or attend a public meeting should email scrutiny@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call (01273) 290450.

For more information about Brighton and Hove Council view:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk