A cross-party committee meeting on December 11 agreed to introduce a 20 mph speed limit in desired areas across Brighton and Hove.
The meeting consisted of views gathered earlier in the year from residents in the second phase of the proposal. The new plans will now see 6 out of 10 people gaining the speed limit they wanted in their street of residence.
Councillor Ian Davey, Lead Member for Transport said: “We are delighted that that the majority of our proposals for 20mph speed limits on residential roads across more of the city have been supported by residents and accepted by opposition councillors.
“We listened carefully to all comments in the consultation and tailored the next phase of 20mph to those streets where most people want it and where it’s most needed to improve road safety.
“As a result of today’s decision, more of the city’s residents will in the future be able to benefit from slower speeds and safer streets where they live, work, shop, play and go to school.”
A final decision upon roads included in the proposals which were opposed by the Conservatives and Labour groups: Portland Road, Surrenden Road, Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue, and large areas of Patcham and Hollingbury will come back to the committee in March.
Ian added: “We are deeply disappointed that Conservative and Labour councillors decided to carve up the proposals, disregarding residents’ views and the safety data.”
Cllr. Theobald leader of the Conservative group, said: “We have always supported 20mph limits where local residents want them and so we agree with the vast majority of the proposals for phase 2. However, in Patcham and Hollingbury, 63% of residents in the so-called Area 5 voted to retain the existing 30mph limit, hence our amendment to remove it from the scheme.
“With regard to Carden Primary School, there is already a 20mph limit around the entrance. In general, I believe that the Phase 2 proposals have been rushed through by the Green Administration before there has been a proper bedding in and evaluation of the Phase 1 scheme. I can only think that they are trying to push this, and phase 3, through before they are voted out of office in 2015.”
Gill Mitchell, Labour’s Transport spokesperson, added: ‘These were always going to be difficult decisions but from the outset we were clear that the key routes for public transport had to remain outside the scheme in order for buses and taxis to run to time and remain as an attractive transport option for residents and we are pleased our amendments have passed that allow that to continue.’
“This peevish response from the Greens highlights their unwillingness to work collaboratively on strategic issues such as transport where their arrogant approach has successfully resulted in a complete polarisation of views’
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