Plans to force motorists to obey 20mph speed limits in Gloucestershire where there are vulnerable people walking nearby have been “kicked into the long grass”.
Liberal Democrat councillors Roger Whyborn and Gill Moseley put forward a motion to introduce the reduced speed limit in streets and roads at Gloucestershire County Council’s meeting today (June 30).
They say their group wants to give control back to communities so they can have their say over speed in their local neighbourhoods.
Their motion called on the council to adopt 20mph maximum speed limits in areas where vulnerable road users and vehicles mix.
They want the county council to work with district councils, parish councils and communities to identify all those roads which should adopt the speed limits.
Councillor Whyborn said it was about reclaiming the streets for those who own them so they can live, walk and cycle and feel children are safe on the streets.
“If you are hit at 20mph as a pedestrian you will probably survive, but that’s much less likely at 30mph or 40mph,” he said.
“It’s about 20mph speed limits over wide areas except main and through roads.
“It’s also about tapping into the public mood that 20mph limits are really popular provided they are the result of community choice and not imposed from the top.”
The motion was supported by Labour and the Green Party councillors but it failed to win over the support of the Conservatives who put forward a procedural motion to have a committee explore the issue.
Public protection, parking and libraries cabinet member Dave Norman said nobody should challenge the view that speed is a contributory factor in road traffic collisions.
He said it was his determination to get what is right for different areas across the county and moved that the subject should be referred to the environment and communities scrutiny committee.
Liberal Democrat councillor Joe Harris said the council should send a clear message by getting behind the original motion put forward by his group.
“Come on guys, I ask my Conservative colleagues, let’s get behind this,” he said.
“Let’s not kick it into the long grass. That’s not what our communities want.”
Conservative councillor Andrew Miller said he did not agree that allowing the scrutiny committee to look at the issue was “somehow kicking it into the long grass”.
And deputy leader Lynden Stowe said all councillors were probably behind the proposals in principle.
But he said the council needed to ensure they followed the most appropriate process to get the decisions right.
The procedural motion to refer the issue to the environment and communities scrutiny committee was approved by 27 votes to 24.
