Work to introduce 20mph zones in Herefordshire quietly dropped

Work to support the introduction of 20mph zones in Herefordshire has been quietly dropped.

In November, Herefordshire Council tendered for a £100,000 contract to help develop a 20mph policy for the county, after the lower speed limit was brought in across Wales and in several English towns and cities.

The contract, due to run from February 8 till the end of August, was for “professional consultancy services support to develop and deliver this policy”.

But the tender, which closed to bids on December 12, is now listed on the government’s Contracts Finder website as a “non award”.

The council then said in response to a freedom of information request: “The purpose of the tender, which has now been cancelled, was to seek support in researching and analysing national data in order to inform a countywide policy.”

Asked why the tender was cancelled, a Herefordshire Council spokesperson would say only: “The tender process was not completed following a review of approach.”

Professor John Whitelegg, senior fellow with the Foundation for Integrated Transport and Herefordshire resident, said he was “not surprised” at the move.

Having spoken last month to the council’s cabinet member for transport Coun Philip Price, “he was clear that he did believe in 20mph policies now in place in the county”, Prof Whitelegg said.

“The rejection of 20mph is a blatant example of not following the guidelines for public bodies,” he added.

The campaigning umbrella group Herefordshire Green Network, which wrote to all Herefordshire councillors last year seeking their backing for the idea, says 20mph zones cut carbon emissions while boosting road safety and public health.