Plymouth’s controversial new 20mph scheme could be extended, council documents reveal. Plymouth City Council intends to turn more than 20 streets and service lanes in Stoke into a 20mph zone controlled by enforcement cameras.
The £450,000 Mill Bridge Safety Scheme, planned to be in place by April 1, is just phase one of a larger project, with phase two covering a huge swathe of Stonehouse and bringing the number of streets included up to 98.
Phase two is expected to be implemented within the next two years but council documents show that the zone could go even further. Officer comments to people who opposed the entire scheme, for Stoke and Stonehouse, at a public consultation, said it could be extended if it is deemed a success.
One comment against the zone claimed it “will cause rat running and speeding traffic on linking roads” and said: “The area should be widened to include these areas.” The response from a council officer said: “The area covered by the limit has been expanded to the maximum extent it can be using the budget currently available.”
It added: “Monitoring of surrounding roads will take place to gauge the effects of the scheme if it is introduced. If judged to be a success there might be potential for extension of the scheme.”
The Labour-controlled council said the public consultation, carried out last summer, resulted in 166 people being in favour of the project, with 163 against. The consultation also had 33 responses which it claimed were “supporting the proposals in part” or raised issues not covered by the consultation.
The council said that out of the 166 people in favour of the scheme, 35 wanted it extended. The document said: “A strong theme amongst those in favour of the scheme was for it to be extended to surrounding areas or across the city.”
The potential to grow the 20mph zone has, however, been criticised by the opposition Tory group on the council, which said it will oppose future expansion and review the policy if the party regains control of the authority. A Conservative spokesperson said that the current council stance meant there was potential for 20mph zones to be “coming to a street near you if this scheme goes ahead”.
The Tories said any widespread adoption of the 20mph areas “will be strongly fought”. A spokesperson said: “Such schemes are oppressive and affect everyone going about their daily lives. If this scheme goes ahead, it’s quite clear the template will be rolled out in other city boroughs.”
The Tory spokesperson added: “We oppose any use of further expansion of such schemes and will review any such schemes that are already implemented, without evidence they are warranted in the interest of road safety, should we regain control of the council.”
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