Norwich Highways Agency Committee has approved a Green Party proposal to introduce 20mph speed limits across residential roads in the city! See 20mph plan approved for more information.
The Green Party is campaigning for a 20mph speed limit in all residential streets in Norwich. During the 07/08 winter the Greens collected over 700 signatures from residents across a wide variety of locations in the city and Norwich City Council has been ready to implement the scheme since June 2006 when it passed a motion with unanimous four-party support. However, the County Council has up until now refused to work with the City Council to implement the scheme - and it is the County Council that is currently in charge of transport for Norwich and the rest of Norfolk.
The Green Party presented its petition to the County Council at their March 2008 Cabinet meeting. The County Council has responded to Green Councillors Adrian Holmes and Andrew Boswell that the City Council will now undertake a feasibility study and that the outcome will be reported to the May meeting of the Norwich Highways Agency on 22 May 2008.
The Green Party will work for the right decision at the NHAC meeting so that Norwich can follow other cities, like Portsmouth, and enjoy the benefits of:
London Greens point to evidence that, where 20mph zones are in place, they have seen a reduction of around 57 per cent in the number of people killed and seriously injured, and of around 42 per cent in other injury accidents.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety says Britain's annual 3,100 road death toll would be cut by two-thirds to around 1,000 a year if all residential areas had 20mph limits. Britain's default speed limit of 30 mph is 60 per cent higher than that throughout most Northern European towns where far more citizens enjoy the opportunity to walk and cycle in greater safety.
Adrian Holmes, Green Party councillor for Mancroft ward, said: "Experience in other places like London and Portsmouth shows that these schemes have considerable success in making our streets safer and more pleasant for everybody, particularly the young and elderly. I found the level of support from residents very encouraging - most people we spoke to on the doorstep were very clear that they want 20mph zones across all residential streets. It's now just down the County Council to agree to work with the City Council, and for the City Council to deliver a good feasibility study ready to roll-out such an innovative scheme for Norwich."