City’s drivers told officially to slow down

LONG-AWAITED plans to impose 20mph speed limits throughout York are set to shift up a gear next week, with further restrictions imposed across the city.

York Council’s cabinet is set to agree to extend the areas covered by 20mph speed limits to the south- west of the city centre.

They are also expected to approve using the village of Murton as a 20mph speed limit pilot for smaller communities around the city.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The move is part of an election pledge by the city’s new Labour administration to cut fatalities on the roads despite criticisms it could cost as much as £1m to introduce.

Following next week’s meeting, campaigners hope the city-wide restrictions will be fully put in place by the end of 2012.

Council leader. Councillor James Alexander, said: “This is the beginning of the manifesto pledge that we were elected on and will be great news to local people in residential areas.”

Pressure has been building on York Council to bring in the city-wide 20mph zone, a move that has led to a reduction in road casualties of as much as 22 per cent in other towns and cities in England, with dozens of individual requests coming from communities for extra restrictions.

Officials estimate the measures would cost between £750,000 and £1m to implement in York.