Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Let villagers choose speed limit’
The demands of villagers for reduced 20mph speed limits should be met by roads bosses, says a rural campaigner.
Former Canterbury city councillor Mike Sole says local referendums should be used to determine whether residents endorse the reductions. The Lib Dem from Bridge says that if implemented, the measures would reflect people’s desires for safer roads. “I’m fed up with being told that the police will not enforce lower speed limits or Kent County Council will not pay for their implementation,” said Mr Sole, who is standing in May’s county council elections.
“If local people want to reduce noise and dangerous emissions and make our streets safer, then it is what we should have.”
Most speed limits in village centres are set at the standard 30mph limit for urban areas. In villages with heavy traffic like Bridge and Blean there are interactive speed signs at the entrances which flash when drivers exceed the limit.
Mr Sole, who represented the rural Barham Downs ward until 2015, argues that lower limits are needed to make country roads safer. He said: “People are tired of seeing speeding traffic rushing through our villages. It is just plain stupid that KCC will not consider reduced speed limits until there are serious accidents.
“The Local Government Act 1972 enable communities to hold referendums and this would be the best way to show support for lower speed limits.”
But Ukip county councillor Brian Macdowall, a prominent member of the Alliance of British Drivers, has accused Mr Sole of “not living in the real world”.
He says reducing speed limits will inconvenience drivers, lead to tailbacks and affect the performance of vehicles.
“This idea would increase journey times in an age when people need to get to places quickly,” said Mr Macdowall, who represents Herne Bay. “It would mean villages clogged up with slowmoving traffic . Cars would be crawling along in tailbacks in second gear, affecting the engine and increasing emissions.
“Furthermore, speed is the primary cause in only 8% or 9% of accidents. The reason for accidents is far more likely to be because of a failure of anticipation and observation on the part of the driver. I’m afraid Mr Sole is chasing the wrong priorities.”
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