Call for views on 20mph speed limit cuts for Midsomer Norton roads
People are being asked to give their views on plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on some roads in Midsomer Norton.
Bath and North East Somerset Council is investing £500,000 into lower speed limits across the district and Midsomer Norton is the next community to give views on the "signs only" scheme.
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Most roads would be part of the speed limit although some are proposed to remain at 30mph, such as West Road, Station Road, North Road, Radstock Road, Northmead Road and Paulton Road.
A leaflet will be delivered asking people to comment on the plans before the consultation ends on November 7.
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The council said the speed limit change is supported by the police who will be empowered to enforce it if it comes into effect.
The introduction of the limits is subject to consultation and no additional traffic calming measures will be introduced. The scheme will only cover appropriate residential streets not main roads.
Councillor Paul Crossley (Lib Dem, Southdown), leader of B&NES, said: "We know that people want to see safer streets and reduced speed limits so that communities are better places to cycle, walk and spend time in.
"B&NES is giving the opportunity for people in Midsomer Norton to have their say about the idea of a 20mph limit in their community.
"The statistics are on our side. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents estimates that a pedestrian has a 90 per cent chance of surviving being hit by a car at 20mph, falling to a 50 per cent chance at 30mph and to ten per cent at 40mph."
The proposal has been met with criticism from some people who do not think the changes go far enough to address problems with speeding and antisocial drivers.
Councillor Barry Macrae (Con, Midsomer Norton North) said that while he welcomed any measure that attempted to improve road safety, he was sceptical that the proposed changes will make a difference on roads where problems with speeding have already been identified – such as West Road and North Road where the limit will remain at 30mph.
He said he felt the changes "will not make a scrap of difference" because they are not being introduced on main roads where there are the biggest risk of accidents.
Mr Macrae added that he felt that additional measures should be included and made reference to Radstock Road outside Welton Primary School where campaigners have long called for a crossing to be installed.
Other Midsomer Norton councillors also welcomed the plans but warned that it must not be at the expense of other road safety schemes and criticised the short length of the consultation.
Councillor Michael Evans (Con, Midsomer Norton North) said he felt it was a lot of money to spend on one project and it should not be at the detriment of more targeted road safety measures such as crossings on Radstock Road, South Road and Silver Street to link the new cycle path with Somervale School.
Councillor Paul Myers (Con, Midsomer Norton Redfield) added that he felt that a consultation over two weeks did not give people enough time to make their thoughts known.
More information about the timetable and proposed order for introducing the limits can be found at www.bathnes.gov. uk/20mphspeedlimit, by sending an email to transportation @bathnes.gov.uk or by calling 01225 394041.
Consultations have already taken place in Peasedown St John. The next stage is the formal Traffic Regulation Order process which will take place in the near future.
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