Hampshire Now - your County Council magazine

Residential 20mph speed limits put to the test in ten locations

Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Following approval in April 2012 to develop a programme of residential 20mph pilots, Hampshire County Council is to trial 20 mph speed limits in ten locations across Hampshire, in a move to improve the quality of life for people in residential areas.

Expected implementation Spring 2013

The Residential 20 project has been developed to take advantage of the Department of Transport's recent relaxations to the signing requirements associated with 20 mph limits. The pilot schemes are intended to test the effectiveness of this new approach in response to requests from residents and with the backing of local County Councillors. The total cost for implementing the trials will be in the region of £250,000, with the first schemes expected to be implemented in the Spring, once consultation with residents to establish support for the lower speed limit in each area has been undertaken.

The ten recommended locations for the pilot schemes are:

  • Whitchurch, Basingstoke
  • Medstead, East Hampshire
  • Cherbourg Road (and surrounding roads), Eastleigh
  • Wallington Village, Fareham
  • Clarence Road, Connaught Road, Albert Street and Albany Road area, Hart
  • Hythe, New Forest
  • Farnborough Old Town Area, Rushmoor
  • Hayling Island, West Town, Havant
  • Stanmore, Winchester
  • Floral Way, Andover

Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said:

"For the pilot schemes to be successful, it is essential that local people support the introduction of 20mph speed restrictions. In the Autumn we will be sending residents in the ten locations a questionnaire to complete and return it to us, so that we know the views of local people.

"Department for Transport guidance states that generally, 20mph speed limits should be self enforcing. The police are unlikely to treat enforcement as a priority in the residential 20mph areas and so we will need the support of residents through their participation in Community Speed Watch programmes."

Signing to denote 20mph areas

The 20mph speed limits will be indicated in the pilot areas using road side signs and 20mph road marking 'roundals' on the road surface. Residents will be encouraged to help promote awareness of their 20mph speed limit via a publicity campaign. 'Before' and 'After' speed monitoring will be carried out in a sample of roads in each area to assess the impact of the new speed limit.

Locations assessed against criteria to test effectiveness

The final ten sites were assessed against the following criteria and provide a variety of different locations in which to test the effectiveness of 20mph residential areas:

  • urban, residential estate type roads currently subject to a 30 mph speed limit where the character/environment naturally lends itself to a lower limit;
  • defined areas with a limited number of roads within a distinct residential environment;
  • clear evidence of local support for a lower speed limit including a commitment to organise a Community Speed Watch group;
  • and areas with existing traffic calming/speed controlling features in place.

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