Bid to cut speed limit around city centre

DRIVERS COULD see the speed limit reduced to 20mph in a city centre and around schools under plans to boost road safety.

Council bosses are proposing a 20mph zone within the Bradford’s inner ring road and around the campuses of Bradford College and the University of Bradford.

It would also cover streets around Farnham and St Joseph’s primary schools and St Luke’s Hospital.

Manchester Road, Leeds Road, Hall Ings, Princes Way, Godwin Street and Westgate would be excluded from the scheme.

Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, said: “There is real evidence that even relatively small reductions in speed can decrease the rate and severity of collisions, and that 20mph zones are very effective at protecting our most vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians and cyclists.”

Two drop-in sessions have been organised by the council to let people find out more about the proposals. The sessions will be held at Oastler Market on Tuesday, February 26, between 1pm and 4pm and at Margaret McMillan Tower on Wednesday, February 27, from 5pm to 6.30pm.

It is hoped the scheme will encourage more people to take up walking and cycling.

The director of public health in Bradford, Sarah Muckle, said: “Introducing 20mph zones has the potential to bring about a range of health and wellbeing benefits for people in Bradford, particularly children.”

More information about the plans is available at www.bradford.gov.uk/consultations