Your Say Time has come for default 20mph limit
B. Darwin (Your Say, April 3) asks a number of questions about possible negative impacts of 20mph speed limits in Calderdale residential areas. I would like to try to answer some of those concerns and explain a little more about the 20’s Plenty For Us campaign. The 20mph speed limits to be rolled out in Calderdale over the next two years affect mostly residential areas. A and B roads are largely excluded, although all are assessed for suitability for a 20mph limit. Details, including maps of the areas where 20mph limits are to be implemented, can be found at: http://www.calderdale.gov. uk/transport/transport-improvements/speed-limit. As far as emergency vehicles are concerned, these are exempt from speed limits. Buses will benefit from the 20’s Plenty approach of wide-area, signed 20mph areas without physical measures such as speed humps, which create difficulties for buses. Research has shown that urban traffic flows more freely at 20mph than at 30mph, with junctions working more efficiently and at a higher capacity, with vehicles better able to pull into traffic and with shorter distances between them. The aim of 20’s Plenty For Us is safer roads and streets, fewer casualties and a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists. This will encourage more people to walk and cycle, thereby cutting congestion and reducing journey times. B. Deacon raises the matter of enforcement. While 20mph limits are enforceable, the view of 20’s Plenty For Us is that the key issue is compliance by means of community involvement and a cultural change in support of the many benefits of safer streets. 20mph is an important public health issue. In Calderdale the project is supported by the Director of Public Health, Paul Butcher, who spoke about his support for the initiative at the 20’s Plenty For Us conference in March. More widely, 20pmh limits are supported by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which states: “Implementing 20 mph zones, with priority given to protecting children and young people in disadvantaged areas who face the greatest risk, could lead to a 100 per cent return on investment in the first 12 months.” The list of cities, towns and counties implementing widearea 20mph limits continues to grow and includes Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, the City of London, Coventry, Edinburgh, Lancashire, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Warrington and York. 20’s Plenty For Us is now campaigning for a default 20mph limit across the UK by 2020. This is very much an idea whose time has come. the Labour party and Shadow Cabinet. And the proof? Feeling somewhat unwell I needed to see my doctor this weekend and guess what? One phone call to 111, a return call with my appointment details from appointment control and yes I returned from my Sunday 8.50 appointment with prescription in hand that will assist me in continuing my canvassing to tell mine and Phillip Allott’s electorate of further Labour untruths. Well done NHS! the number of cars,freeing up the roads for the buses (er we have no trams in Halifax) and even cyclists. As Nick pointed out No “wow” factor, or solution. Never mind Nick, shows you’re trying.