News / Politics
20mph limits to be debated (again)
Groundhog Day looks set to come around again when another debate is held on 20mph zones, after a petition in favour of the new policy reached over 4,000 signatures.
The controversial speed limits were last subjected to a debate among all the city councillors in September last year when an opposing petition hit the 3,500 mark which forces a discussion under council rules.
Mark Weston, Conservative group leader, said during the previous debate, the fourth of its kind to have been held in a year, that the evening had a sense of “groundhog day”.
The speed limits, which have now been rolled out to every residential area of Bristol, were first discussed a year before that when the Tories called for the roll-out to be halted. More than 8,000 people have signed the petition calling for the limits to be scrapped.
But the latest petition, which had reached 4,053 signatures on Wednesday, asks the council to “keep and extend 20mph limits”.
The petition says: “We are convinced that Bristol’s narrow streets and roads in densely populated neighbourhoods or around parks are not suitable for 30mph traffic.
“Reducing the maximum speed makes a much more liveable city with pleasant streets, significantly improves safety of all road and pavement users, especially of children.
“It also has a huge positive impact on cycling by allowing cyclists to keep up with the main flow of traffic or, when this is not possible, making cars pass much more safely.
“It even helps businesses by making streets more friendly and stopping easier for cars.”
The final zone in the blanket roll-out of 20mph zones went live in September last year after no more than four council debates about the policy in one year.
Bristol’s 20mph scheme hit national headlines earlier this year after it was revealed that George Ferguson had been caught speeding.
The total cost of implementing the scheme, including putting up 13,000 new signs, was revealed to be £2.3 million.
Read more: Mayoral candidate promises 20mph review
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