The green light has been given on proposals to roll out the first phase of a new 20mph speed limit in the centre of Plymouth, despite nearly half of responses being against the project. The speed limit will affect roads in parts of Stoke and Stonehouse and aims to make the streets safer for children travelling to school.
A recent consultation invited residents to share views on the plans, which centres on a new pedestrian and cycle crossing on Mill Bridge, which links Stonehouse Creek to Victoria Park. The proposals aim to reduce vehicle speed down Eldad Hill, with its narrow footpath, according to Plymouth City Council.
A newly extended 20mph zone was included within the consultation and after a mixed response, where more than 360 people gave their views, the scheme will be implemented in phases. The first phase, focusing on roads around Stoke, Millbridge and Eldad Hill, will launch in the spring.
Construction of the new crossing and footway works will begin this month and it is expected to take around 10 to 12 weeks. During this time, traffic control will be needed on Eldad Hill and Mill Bridge, but it is not expected that the road will be closed.
Following these works, the 20mph speed limit will be introduced into Stoke, estimated to be in April. Signage which indicates the new speed limit, making sure it is enforceable, will be put into place towards the end of March. This includes the area from Mill Bridge in the south to Wingfield Way in the north, Stuart Road to the east and Fitzroy Road to the west.
What is the second phase?
The second phase of the scheme will see the 20mph limit be introduced into Stonehouse. This will be introduced within the following two years.
The zone will affect streets up to Union Street in the south and Victoria Park in the north, connecting with the phase one zone. The zone will extend up to Saltash Road in the northeast.
The phases will be split as many people who lived in the proposed zone were in favour of the scheme, including those residents living near Stuart Road Primary Academy. Out of 362 responses, 166 were in favour, 163 were against, and 33 responses were interpreted as either supporting the plans in part of raising issues not in the consultation. This means over 45 percent of responses were against.
“This scheme is not about the council raising money”
The scheme was designed with schools in mind as the zones reflect the proximity of where children will be most frequent.
(Image: Plymouth City Council)
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport at Plymouth City Council, said: “These proposals were based on feedback from ward members and residents who have been concerned about excessive speeds, accidents and near misses in their neighbourhood, particularly for children and their families travelling to and from school in the morning and at the end of the day.
“We would like to thank those who took the time to share their feedback as part of the consultation. I and local ward councillors have taken time to carefully consider all the comments we received.
“Overall, views were fairly evenly split but the proportion of local residents in favour was a lot higher than the proportion of those against – and these are the people most affected. Many in favour of the scheme asked for it to be extended to surrounding areas or other parts of the city.
“We have decided that the safety of children travelling to and from school has to be our number one focus. None of the negative arguments in the consultation were more important than the safety of our youngest residents.
“However, we are not going to introduce the new speed limit in one go. We will focus on the roads in Stoke around Stuart Road Primary Academy first. Then, after the scheme has bedded in, we will look at rolling out the second phase.
“Let me be clear. This scheme is not about the council raising money. The council does not receive a penny from speed cameras. This is about keeping people safe.”
“Help keep our community safe”
Britta Nicholls, headteacher from Stuart Road Primary Academy, added: “For Stuart Road Primary, situated in a build-up residential area, the 20-zone proposal will impact greatly on the safety of its pupils and families who attend the school. As many children walk, scooter or cycle to Stuart Road, the 20mph zone will ensure a safer journey to and from the school. Residents, as well as families, welcome the 20mph zone to avoid any future near-misses and help keep our community safe.”
Devon and Cornwall Police were in favour of the proposals after a number of collisions over the last five years. In both phase areas, 58 collisions were reported, one of which was fatal and nine resulting in serious injuries.
The force’s Road Casualty Reduction Officer said: “We are aware of the collision history in North Road West and Wilton Street and believe that the proposals to implement a 20mph speed limit put forward by Plymouth City Council will reduce the number of collisions and prioritise the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using the crossing point.”
It had previously been confirmed that the speed cameras which will be installed will record average speeds rather than speeds at a certain point. To find out more about the scheme, visit the council’s website here.
PlymouthLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join us. Once you sign up for our updates, we’ll send the latest breaking news and biggest stories of the day straight to your phone.
To join our community, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the PlymouthLive team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Click here to join our WhatsApp community.