Cllr Pete West

Brighton & Hove City Council has set up a 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.
 
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 will chair the panel. He 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.”
 
Other members of the panel are councillors Geoff Wells , Gill Mitchell and Paul Elgood .
 
The panel will also seek to address the environmental consequences of 20mph speed limits on the city’s air quality, carbon emissions as well as noise levels. It will also investigate the other benefits that 20mph speed limits may bring, such as increases in public health, stronger community relations and better walking and cycling conditions.
 
The panel is holding a number of public meetings during January and February 2010. There will be one public meeting specifically for residents, community groups and local organisations to come along and give their views on speed reductions in their local area.
 
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