Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole set to become a 20 mph Zone
Movement of vehicles, from cars to delivery vans and buses to lorries, is essential for our modern way of life. Much of our local economy is directly dependent on navigating our road system and delays can cost businesses money as productivity declines.
But if the Lib Dem led Council, supported by Labour and Greens, gets its way, Bournemouth and the rest of the conurbation could soon be subject to a blanket 20 mph speed limit that will slow everything down, meaning we all spend a lot more time on the road, rather than at our destination.
What is being proposed
In a recent scrutiny meeting the Deputy Leader of the Council announced her intention that the conurbation would become 20 mph by default. The purple on this map produced by the Council, demonstrates the impact of this policy.
20 mph zones are an effective way to protect schools and quiet residential streets. Where residents feel 20 mph is right for their road, there is already an application and assessment process to reduced speed limits, should this be necessary. But sign only schemes, without traffic calming measures, do very little. Default 20 mph speed limits make little difference, may increase pollution and risk motorists ignoring 20 mph zones where they are needed.
What are the issues?
- Taxi drivers have said that the introduction of 20 mph zones is unnecessary and unenforceable, risking longer journey times and increased fares for their customers.
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Go South Coast (owners of Morebus) warned that if not carefully considered, a drop to 20mph could “increase operational costs leading to some routes no longer being commercially viable”. The company added 20mph speed limits should be in place on roads “where it is appropriate”.
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Small businesses have lost customers where restrictions have been implemented in other parts of the country. Increased congestion from slow traffic can damage the supply chain and timely deliveries.
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Such substantial 20 mph zones will inevitably cause congestion, reducing Bournemouth's appeal and in turn discouraging visitors putting our £1.3bn pa Tourism Economy at risk.
- Dorset Police has said it “will not be able to supply additional resources to monitor & enforce any speed reductions”.
BCP's 20 mph plan - Phase 1
- The Council’s first step in rolling out this policy, is well underway with plans announced to introduce a 20 mph zone across a swathe of Bournemouth East from St Swithun’s Roundabout to Iford Lane Roundabout and dozens of the surrounding roads.
- Almost £2 million has been provided by the Department for Transport to deliver improvement schemes and signage for the benefit of all road users on this stretch of the A35, not for the purpose of restricting our travel choices and making it harder to move around the conurbation.
- This new Council policy, like so many, has not been thought through and seems more ideologically driven and ANTI-car, rather than as part of a sensible transport strategy designed to improve traffic flows.
Get Involved
The Department for Transport has issued new guidance, making sure that local authorities will only impose these speed limits where there is a good reason to do so and where the public is properly consulted. BCP Council is consulting on the proposal above right now.
Let's ensure residents have the final say, not the Council.
Council survey is now closed, but please tell me your views in my survey below.
