Streets where more people died AFTER 20mph limit came in

... but councillors say it’s too expensive to scrap it

WHEN councillors brought in a series of 20mph zones, the idea was to make roads safer.

But, a year on, they found that in more than half the zones more people have been killed or injured – yet they don’t have enough money to reverse the policy.

A report has blamed the increase on pedestrians being ‘less diligent’ when crossing the roads because they think they are less dangerous.

Bath and North East Somerset Council spent £871,000 bringing in 13 of the zones. However a report has found that the rate of people killed or seriously injured went up in seven out of the 13 areas in the 12 months after they were installed.

In the others the rate either stayed the same or went down. The report published by the council claims the findings reflect a national trend.

Deputy council leader Patrick Anketell- Jones admitted the money is not available to reverse the 20mph zones.

The councillor said: ‘It has cost over £800,000 to roll out the 20mph zones and it would probably cost the same to reverse them.

‘ We just haven’t got the money. I’m pretty sure the 20mph zones will stay in place for the foreseeable future.’

The report concludes that there is ‘little in the way of persuasive argument for continuing the programme in the future’. It adds that the rise in casualty numbers would ‘suggest against further expansion of area-based schemes’.

Mr Anketell- Jones said: ‘I think the report is essentially right, but there are some roads where it might still be a good idea to have 20mph zones. For example, around schools and vulnerable residential areas where it is important for the people who live there.

‘We are in a relatively early stage still and we need more information to be able to make a better judgement.’

Retired civil servant Simon Marshall, 58, from Lower Weston, Bath, called on the council to review the 20mph speed limits, calling them ‘unduly restrictive’.

And he said he was astonished to see the report and learn that the council couldn’t afford to reverse the zones, despite rising numbers of deaths and serious injuries.

He said: ‘The facts are that the numbers of people being killed and injured are going up since the zones were introduced. More people are being hurt because less people are taking care, and the council are saying that they can’t afford it.

‘To my mind that’s saying that people are being seriously hurt but we are not prepared to stump up the cash to stop that happening.

‘When you’re in a 20mph zone where it doesn’t feel like there should be one, people are looking at the speedometer rather than the roads. Cars are so much quieter these days too, so pedestrians don’t necessarily hear them coming.’

Mr Marshall added: ‘I disagree about the costs – all they have to do is remove the 20mph signs and the system reverts to 30mph automatically if there are street lights.’

Mr Anketell- Jones said: ‘It would be good to have another report after at least a couple more years’ worth of information, so we can make a much better judgement.

‘We know this is high in the public conscience and it’s definitely something that we will be keeping under review.’