Horsham District Council supports Lib Dem Motion on speed limits

A Lib Dem Motion moved at Horsham District Council Dec 14th by Cllr John Milne and seconded by Cllr Ruth Fletcher calls on HDC to take a more active role in reducing speeding traffic:

“The West Sussex Speed Limit Policy which applies across Horsham District is being reviewed.

In the light of recent evidence that speed limit reductions have significantly higher impact on speeds and collisions than previously believed, we move that this Council requests that West Sussex County Council reconsider their new Speed Limit Policy to put greater emphasis on reducing speeds on those roads where need is greatest. We also request it to reconsider the delivery mechanism to accelerate efficient rollout both across existing roads and for new developments.”

West Sussex’s 12 year old speed limit policy is long past its sell-by date. It’s holding back communities from solving road safety issues created by ever-faster, ever-increasing traffic.

Unfortunately, under the current system most applications for new traffic controls won’t succeed. That’s because the bar has been deliberately set too high in order to save money. For both the resident and West Sussex Highways, it results in a lot of effort for little outcome.

In proposing the motion, Cllr John Milne, Roffey North, explained:

“For example, under current policy, residents applying for a 30mph limit in their road almost certainly won’t get it - unless average speeds are already 33mph or under. In other words, they’re refused lower speed limits because the cars are driving too fast! Residents are routinely left disappointed by this encounter with local council bureaucracy.”

The West Sussex review by Cabinet Member for Highways, Cllr Joy Dennis, is still under way. Some improvements have been promised but problems remain:

• The policy is based on very old data and does not fully reflect recent schemes from across the country
• Contrary to West Sussex policy, ‘sign only’ speed limits have a much greater impact than previously believed.
• Crucially, the higher the existing speed, the greater impact a lower speed limit has.

Other local authorities show far greater ambition:

• Surrey is introducing a large scheme to reduce 60mph rural speed limits to 40mph, 30mph and, on a network of small lanes just north of Horsham even down to 20mph.
• Oxfordshire has a 3-year programme to roll out ‘20mph as the new 30mph’ wherever communities support it
• Cambridgeshire is making 20mph the default on new developments

Cllr Tricia Youtan (Cons) moved that the issue be delegated to a PDAG discussion group for further discussion, as it was too complex to be agreed in the meeting. Cllrs John Milne & Ruth Fletcher supported the delegation, while urging haste in order to shape the debate at West Sussex.

Cllr Ruth Fletcher, Denne Ward, commented:

“The new speed limit policy will shape our roads for the next decade, so it is vital to learn from the latest experience and get it right.”

Cllr John Milne added:

“What we need is greater vision and an explicit commitment to a modern roads agenda, such as School Streets, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and 20’s Plenty. It's not reasonable or credible to leave all the running to residents.”