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20 MPH consultation in Selsdon and Ballards
19/01/2017 13:10:00......Posted by Sara Bashford
The Council have a policy to introduce 20 MPH roads across the borough, these will cover the majority of roads, with the exception of a few arterial roads, such as Brighton Road and Addington Road Different people have different views as to the need for these 20 MPH zones, but if implemented will operate 365 days a years and 24 hours a day. Two zones in the north have marginally voted in favour of the scheme and now it is our turn to tell the Council what we want. The Council will start it’s consultation on the 18th January and it will run until the 15th February. They will deliver a leaflet with the full details to each household. The details will also be on the Council’s website. The consultation is not a simple yes or no vote, you will be asked to explain why you object, if you do, to the consultation and it will relate to all roads in the zone you live in to be 20MPH. This is a departure from how the previous two zones were consulted on so it is very important for you to respond giving your reasons. In summary the first two zones in the north of the borough had an opportunity to vote yes or no in an opinion survey, but the remaining zones covering the south and parts of the centre of the borough won’t have that opportunity. This is an all or nothing approach so you will be expressing your view for the whole zone you live in. For example, Zone 4 covers Croham, Fairfield, Fieldway, Heathfield, New Addington, Sanderstead (part) Selsdon and Ballards and Shirley (part). Zone 5 covers Coulsdon East. Coulsdon West, Kenley, Purely, Sanderstead (part) and Waddon. Each Zone is consulted on separately, so if you have an objection you will need to submit it. As your local councillors we have had a number of concerns raised with us about this blanket approach scheme. We asked the Council to consider problem hot-spots and areas of specific need such as outside schools, medical facilities and elderly care homes. They refused. Whilst we all realise that accidents at low speeds cause less injury and damage there are a number of reasons why a scheme across the whole zone has raised concerns too. The concerns that have been raised with us are:- At low speed pollution is greater The police at the first scrutiny meeting on 20MPH zones said they would not enforce it. If there is no (or minimal) enforcement pedestrians have a false sense of security. This does not cover the main roads where the higher number/ most serious accidents are. Each Zone costs £300K to implement (£1.5M for the whole scheme) and only targeting specific hot spots is better value for money. Every road in the zone, at all times, eg 2am will be 20 MPH That this scheme will not prevent inconsiderate / bad drivers who are the cause of many accidents. That current 20MPH zones outside schools will lose their significance and become more dangerous.
If you do not receive the information from the Council by the 25th January please do let us know, so we can ensure you have the opportunity to make your views known. Please do contact us if you have any questions.
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