Residents to be consulted on extending 20mph

More residents of Brighton & Hove are to be consulted about an extension of 20mph speed limits into their streets.

Following approval to implement 20mph speed limits for the city’s Phase 2 area, at the council’s environment committee last week, proposals are now being developed for a third phase of the programme. 

Phase 2 covered residential areas from Portslade in the west to Moulsecoomb and Whitehawk in the east and Coldean in the north

Phase 3 would cover Hangleton, Woodingdean, Ovingdean, Saltdean and Rottingdean.  A consultation would provide an opportunity for people in those areas to have a say on speed limits for their streets.

After listening to residents, councillors also agreed to reinstate into Phase 2 a number of streets which were removed at an environment committee meeting last December.  A petition signed by 742 people had called for the re-inclusion of Surrenden Road, Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue.

Lead councillor for transport Ian Davey said:  “We are already starting to see the benefits of lower limits in central Brighton & Hove with fewer people being hurt on our roads. That means people can gradually feel safer on the streets where they live, making neighbourhoods more accessible and pleasant for everyone.

“When consultation takes place later this year I’d urge people to look at the evidence from the many towns and cities with 20mph and the positive evidence we already have here in Brighton & Hove - and support the proposals.”

Early monitoring from Phase 1 in the city centre, started last year, has shown a decrease in traffic speed on 74 per cent of roads.  Collisions and casualties are down where the 20mph limit has been implemented.

Depending on the outcome of consultation, Phase 3 could be introduced in 2015.