Road Safety Week heralds announcement of last 20mph zone
The announcement today (26 November) that the roll-out of 20mph speed limits to residential streets north of the A406 as far as Hall Lane and New Road has appropriately been made during Road Safety Week.
Three years ago the Council committed to making all residential streets in the borough 20mph to reduce casualties on local roads. The scheme has already been successfully implemented south of the North Circular (A406).
Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, said, “We recently consulted occupiers of nearly 12,000 properties in south Chingford and Highams Park and learnt that the majority of respondents supported the scheme.
“However, we also recognise that a significant minority supported the general policy, but expressed concerns about the numbers of road humps. As a result we have reviewed the design and reduced the number of road humps across a number of roads.”
By extending 20mph zones the Council can further reduce the number of accidents occurring within the borough, as well as the severity of these accidents. The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) state at 30mph there is a 20 per cent chance of being fatally injured, compared to a 2.5 per cent chance at 20mph.
The Mayor of London’s Safe Streets for London strategy sets a target to cut 40 per cent of those killed or seriously injured in a road collision by 2020. Waltham Forest has already seen a 41.11 per cent reduction of casualties on its roads, and the extension of 20mph zones aims to reduce incidences still further.
“The consultation process has allowed us to really listen to residents about the issues they have with their individual roads and how introducing a 20mph limit can help,” explained Cllr Loakes.
“We have agreed to proceed as originally proposed on 126 roads, with 49 involving the installation of a combination of 20mph roundels and road humps. However, we’re also modifying our proposals in relation to 40 roads, reducing the numbers of road humps or replacement of speed cushions.”
The Council will write to all impacted residents and businesses informing them of the outcome of the consultation and the timescale for the delivery. A statutory consultation will be carried out prior to commencing works, which are scheduled for completion by 31 March 2016.
Residents in the final area for rollout of the 20mph scheme in the very north of the borough will be consulted next year.