Scheme for 20mph zone across city closer as pilot idea backed

York Council has come under mounting pressure to slash the speed limit on all of the city’s roads as campaigners claimed the move would reduce fatalities.

The authority’s cabinet member for city strategy, Coun Dave Merrett, has now given the go-ahead for plans to introduce 20mph zones to the south-west of the centre of York as part of the development of a citywide policy.

The decision will now deliver an expanded scheme in the South Bank neighbourhood and introduce 20mph speed limits to Murton, which will be used as a pilot for all villages circling York.

Coun Merrett said: “This new approach is about lowering speeds in residential areas and making them safer for the people of York.

“But, I’m not being complacent – encouraging a change in attitudes and culture across the city is no small task.”

The previous Liberal Democrat administration had maintained that the cost of imposing a citywide zone was too great, especially at a time when local authorities are battling swingeing financial cutbacks.

The council’s former executive member for city strategy, Coun Steve Galloway, who lost his seat in the May local elections, had claimed the city-wide scheme would cost up to £1m to introduce.

But Labour made a manifesto pledge before sweeping to power in May to enforce a blanket 20mph zone throughout the city.

The exact cost of the pilot has yet to be established as the council needs to consult with residents about which roads will be included.

A previous consultation took place in November last year for initial plans to cover a smaller area of South Bank, with an overwhelming majority of residents in favour of the proposals.

The results of the consultation revealed 75 per cent of respondents were in favour of the new speed limit.

A petition was then presented to the council in December last year calling for the South Bank scheme to be widened across more of the neighbourhood.

Under the new plans, Bishopthorpe Road and the adjoining streets, including shopping and residential areas, will be considered for inclusion in the new pilot.

A traffic survey which was commissioned by Labour councillors revealed more than a third of drivers were speeding through Bishopthorpe Road, which is one of York’s most sought-after postcode areas.

The research monitored the speeds of a total of 16,000 vehicles which were travelling to and from the city centre.

The findings, which were published in January, revealed that almost 35 per cent of the vehicles were being driven in excess of the 30mph limit – with one car being clocked at 61mph.

The village of Murton has also been selected as a pilot area for a 20mph zone to be introduced after a groundswell of support from the local community.

A petition was presented to the council on October 7 last year calling for a 20mph zone in the village, after the vast majority of householders in Murton had supported reducing the speed limit.

The council will now consult with residents on the South Bank and Murton schemes and how to handle key through-roads.

More than 720 vehicles use the section of Bishopthorpe Road near the former Terry’s chocolate factory between 8am and 9am on weekdays, rising to 1,150 vehicles at the street’s parade of shops.

Portsmouth was the first place in Britain to introduce a 20mph limit on all but its main arterial roads when the scheme was launched in March 2008.

Towns and cities including Oxford, Leicester, Norwich and Newcastle-upon-Tyne have subsequently enforced similar zones.