Worthing set for 20mph blanket speed limit (From The Argus)
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Worthing set for 20mph blanket speed limit
1:00pm Friday 1st July 2011 in News
Councillors will agree to Sussex's first blanket speed reduction on residential roads as long as there is “broad” public support for it.
Campaigners say they are now one step closer to introducing a 20mph default speed limit in Worthing.
However West Sussex County Council said money for the scheme will not be found from its multimillion pound highways and transport budget.
Instead they say the estimated £245,000 cost must come out of Section 106 money that is given by developers to pay for local infrastructure.
If the scheme is introduced Worthing will become the first town in the county to have a default speed limit of 20mph on residential roads.
It could also have implications on cities such as Brighton and Hove and Chichester where there is growing support for a speed reduction on residential roads.
This month The Argus reported that speed limit reduction was a “high priority” for Brighton and Hove City Council.
Next week the county council's Worthing county local committee will decide whether to give 20s Plenty for Worthing organisers a £1,000 grant to fund publicity for their campaign.
The money would be used to set up stalls and campaign material such as stickers and leaflets.
Duncan Kay, the campaign organiser, said he wants people to go to the meeting to demonstrate support for the campaign.
He said: “We want to encourage as many people as possible to attend.
“If lots of people turn up and say we really want it then I think they will be more willing to give it to us.
“Personally I think West Sussex County Council should at least be willing to pay some of the money they have to spend on transport.”
Lionel Barnard, the county council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said he would consider supporting the scheme as long as supporters were able to “demonstrate broad public support”.
The committee meeting will be held at Thomas A Becket First School in Pelham Road, Worthing, at 7pm on July 6.
Comments(14)
John Steed
says...
2:28pm Fri 1 Jul 11
joebie sussex
says...
2:42pm Fri 1 Jul 11
John Steed wrote:Who would enforce such a ban "plod" I dont think so, they havent got the time to tackle crimes. Or are the councillors going to walk in front of a queue of cars and trucks with a red flag. Forward thinking no-way,spend money on worth-while projects.
nothing is done to enforce a 30mph limit so why waste the effort.
Sudseax
says...
3:52pm Fri 1 Jul 11
That will take time, but it is the norm in some European cities where 30kph (18mph) is the speed limit on residential roads. As a result they spend less time and money in hospitals and at the crematorium. It’s a matter of the community deciding what sort of town we want to live in.
In terms of cost, this approach to road safety promises much better value for money than most other interventions that have been tried. If you haven’t seen Duncan Kay’s presentation on 20mph speed limits, I recommend that you do. Even some hardened sceptics have been persuaded when presented with the evidence and the approach. That’s why support for 20’s Plenty is growing.
WSCC’s attitude is outrageous. If the campaigners can demonstrate broad public support for 20mph speed limits, surely the council is there to deliver what the community is asking for. So much for The Big Society.
MORK&MINDY
says...
4:48pm Fri 1 Jul 11
"Councillors will agree to Sussex's first blanket speed reduction on residential roads as long as there is “broad” public support for it".
This is exactly why I never bought a house in Worthing ...
too many speeding blankets.
SamCandles
says...
5:23pm Fri 1 Jul 11
On a serious note, people in general tend to shy away from change. Good or bad change has to happen.
I wasn't aware of the twenty is plenty campaign but some of the roads are so narrow that I actually think it's a good idea. Once it's implemented and people see the results they'll wonder why it wasn't implemented before!
MORK&MINDY
says...
6:00pm Fri 1 Jul 11
They might have implemented a carpet speeding ban as well.
bill porter
says...
7:23pm Fri 1 Jul 11
If you really want to make a difference, enforce 20mph zones around schools but leave the rest of the town alone.
SamCandles
says...
1:24am Sat 2 Jul 11
Helena Hancart
says...
12:07pm Sat 2 Jul 11
MORK&MINDY wrote:You bought a House in WORTHING! ARE YOU INSANE!
QUOTE ...
"Councillors will agree to Sussex's first blanket speed reduction on residential roads as long as there is “broad” public support for it".
This is exactly why I never bought a house in Worthing ...
too many speeding blankets.
AngelicDevil
says...
1:51pm Sat 2 Jul 11
SamCandles wrote:Oh my god, did you really just say that???
Well after a pedestrian was killed this afternoon by a motorbike, had the speed been 20mph he might have survived! I know this wasnt on a residential road but same principles. I admit I don't have proof the motorcyclist was speeding but as he is in hospital with injuries, it does rather suggest speed was a factor :0(
Riding a motorcycle isn't like driving a car, you hit something, or something hits you, your bike is unbalanced and the chances are you will come off.
You could be going at 20mph and hit a person and you will still come off your bike and be injured!
Blanket speed restrictions don't work. Put them outside areas where there are vulnerable people (schools) and enforce them. Don't turn an entire town into a place where no-one adheres to the speed limit because they can see that going 10mph faster is still safe because there are no/minimal hazards around.
binge
says...
2:36pm Sat 2 Jul 11
HJarrs
says...
3:52pm Sat 2 Jul 11
binge wrote:Whilst you are correct, you ignore the reduction of emissions due less accelerating and braking as people tend to accelerate to 30 only to brake more heavily.
Driving at 20mph will mean that 3rd gear may well have be used by many drivers, which uses more fuel & therefore an increase in CO2 and other dangerous gases.The avarage car engine is not built to travel for long periods at low speed. It is likely that engine wear will increase.
I would welcome the introduction of a 20mph zone in B&H. It would make very little difference to journey times when I drive as traffic lights and other traffic are a far greater restriction.
BeachedBum
says...
12:35am Tue 5 Jul 11
sparky_censored says...
2:10pm Fri 1 Jul 11