In the 2016 Local Election in Bristol, one of Labour’s manifesto pledges was to review Residents’ Parking Schemes and 20mph speed limits to ensure that they are working well. Over the past two years we’ve been working on the Residents’ Parking Schemes, with the last changes coming into place. Now it’s the turn of 20mph.

The consultation is live, and will be open until the 31st August. You can take part here: bristol.gov.uk/20mphreview If you need a paper copy then please let me know.

The aim of the 20mph review is to identify whether any localised adjustments are needed to the 20mph speed limit across the City in order to improve its effectiveness.

In each area there are a number of roads that have been identified for review from information gathered through Councillors, the public, stakeholders and through a monitoring report that the University of the West of England (UWE) produced recently for the council. These suggestions incorporate information gathered since the introduction of the 20mph scheme in 2012.

Whilst specific roads have been identified thanks to known information, there is also the opportunity for people to suggest changes to speed limits on other roads.

Changes to speed limits (whether upwards or downwards) would only be considered where supported by evidence, made up of three aspects:

  1. Public opinion/perspective/experience
  2. Changes to roads/environments/land use
  3. Speed data

The consultation website explains more about this and the process in general.

Personally, I feel that since 20mph was introduced our area has become safer, and a much nicer place to be a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist. This was echoed by the UWE report, which found that speeds have reduced across the city, with roads becoming safer and injuries reducing.

In addition to the consultation website, you can find out more about 20mph in Bristol here: www.bristol20mph.co.uk

A key element of reducing speeds is ensuring that the limits are kept to. Local residents can help with this, through a scheme called Community SpeedWatch. This is a police and council initiative designed to give local people the ability to actively get involved in road safety. Residents volunteer to monitor speeds using speed detection equipment and record details of any vehicles travelling over the limit to share with the police. Click here for more information: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/csw

If you have any other feedback or views then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

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