UPDATE! City will have to wait for 20mph zones

1.49.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Jun 2008

20mph

At a council meeting last night it emerged that Norwich will have to wait at least 15 months before the introduction of blanket 20mph zones in residential streets across the city.

Report from the Norwich Evening News

DAN GRIMMER

04 June 2008 13:00

City will have to wait for 20mph zones

The introduction of blanket 20mph zones in residential streets across Norwich is unlikely to begin in earnest for at least 15 months, it has emerged.

Last month Norwich Highways Agency Committee (NHAC) went against advice from officers and decided to go ahead with bringing in the limit outside homes, but a lack of cash and legal issues mean it could be as late as 2010 before the first new limits are created.

The idea was first put forward by Liberal Democrats at City Hall two years ago, but officers had recommended the highways agency committee - which is made up of city and county councillors - turn it down and stick with the present policy of bringing in limits in certain areas identified as problematic.

Officers said to install signs and traffic calming measures while ensuring they would be enforced would cost £10m, but councillors instead agreed £300,000 should be spent to put up 20mph signs in all the city's unclassified residential streets - 240km of roads.

However, at a meeting of Norwich City Council last night it became clear hopes that the limits will quickly be put in place look set to be dashed.

Brian Morrey, executive member for sustainable development, said: "Officers are now looking at how to introduce the measure. Budgets for the current financial year are fixed and while it may be possible to find some limited funding to start the ball rolling, without dropping schemes that have already been started, funds will not be available to carry out any substantive works until 2009/2010.

"It is intended that NHAC receives a report in September detailing how the scheme will be implemented, how much it will cost, how it will be funded, whether it needs to be phased in and its impact on traffic calming schemes that are already in the programme for this year and the next.

"I think I need to caution, however that the NHAC decision is the first part of a long process. Any change in speed limit requires a legal order, known as a Speed Reduction Order.

"Before a Speed Reduction Order can be implemented there needs to be a formal consultation process where the public, stakeholders and, most importantly, the police, have the opportunity to comment on the proposals.

"If there are any formal objections to the proposal, these will need to be considered by NHAC before the final go ahead for the scheme can be given.

"I know many of you are anxious to see this implemented quickly, but realistically it is likely to be 15 to 18 months before we see the first of the new limits created as part of this scheme on the streets of Norwich."

Judith Lubbock, Liberal Democrat for Eaton, who put forward the original motion, said she was disappointed it would take so long to introduce the limits.

She said: "I think councillors would like to see a statement of intent, with a trial period set up in 12 months. I'm sure every councillor in this room could think of a residential area which needs them."

Stephen Bett, Norfolk Police Authority chairman, has already said his personal view is that the police will not have the time or resources to enforce the new limits.

When the 20mph limit in residential streets does come in Norwich will become the third city in the country after Portsmouth and Aberdeen to have such a limit.