Issued by City of York Council
City of York Council is inviting 13,000 households in the West of York to feedback their comments on plans to implement a 20mph limit policy in the area.
Following the announcement of the scheme in March, supported by headteachers in the West of York Schools Partnership and one of the UK’s leading health and well being mutuals, benenden health, residents now have the opportunity to have their say.
From next week residents living in the West of York directly affected by the proposals will receive a leaflet outlining the plans and how they can feed back their views.
The scheme builds on the policy to introduce 20mph speed limits in residential areas to help promote considerate driving, make walking and cycling more attractive and raise confidence in the safety of local neighbourhoods.
As part of a phased citywide rollout Acomb, Holgate, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Westfield will become the next Wards to be considered for lower speed limits.
Councillor Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “With significant reductions of up to three miles per hour (average speeds) in parts of Fishergate ward as a direct result of introducing a lower speed limit, this should prove to be a cost effective approach. Residents now have the chance to see the plans and offer their views on them.
“The introduction of lower speed limits reduces speeds, giving drivers more time to react to the presence of other road users, and reducing the likelihood and scale of any potential remaining accidents.
“We are seeking to increase driver and safety awareness on our roads as part of the roll out. We as a city are committed to making York’s roads safer; I’d invite everyone to also look at and sign up to our new iPledge scheme to improve road safety.”
Proposals of how 20mph might best be implemented in the West of York as well as Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe and Bishophill, are available at www.york20mph.org. Plans are also available to view at York Explore Library Learning Centre, local libraries in the West of York, and Energise sports centre.
Following consideration of residents’ representations their comments will be fed back to a decision session for consideration before the introduction of the proposed 20mph limits. The planned introduction is set to be in place in summer 2013 and will ensure that the majority of residential roads and neighbourhoods will have a lower speed limit to help reduce speeds where people live.
The signed-only 20mph speed limits are designed to be largely self-enforcing and aim to support, strengthen and work alongside the many existing traffic calmed 20mph zones that are already in place in many residential streets and around schools in the west of the city.
For further information visit www.york20mph.org, follow @york20mph on Twitter, or like York20mph on Facebook. For further details about the councils iPledge scheme visit i-Travel York.
Inspector Michael Barron of North Yorkshire Polices Roads Policing Group, said: “Speeding is one of the major concerns highlighted by members of the public. Not only is inappropriate and excessive speed a cause of deaths and serious injuries, but it can affect peoples quality of life.
“By reducing the speed limits through residential areas, noise pollution will be reduced and the environment will feel safer for all road users and pedestrians alike, and in the unfortunate event of a collision, the severity of injuries can be reduced.
“Drivers should also remember that the speed limit is not a target, and should also drive according to the road conditions and potential hazards at the time.
West of York Schools Partnership, which includes all headteachers in the West of York, said: “We are encouraged by the positive results that have been achieved in the trial areas across the city and as school leaders we are delighted to be able to work in partnership to support strategies which ensure the safety and well-being of our pupils and our communities.”
Ken Hesketh, Chief Executive at Benenden Health, based on Holgate Park Drive, said: “As a major health & well being organisation with strong links to the community, we are fully supportive of local schemes that will encourage a healthier environment for walking and cycling.
“Our employees commute to our offices in Holgate Park from all over Yorks region. Freeing up traffic flows and enabling improved safety from alternative forms of transport can only serve to improve Yorks infrastructure, make communities safer and support local businesses.”
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