Decision details

To consider the petition asking that the County Council makes 20mph the default for residential areas, reduces speed limits where there are potential deaths and injuries and follow the government guidance on safe speed limits.

13.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

13.2     Mr Mark Slater, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to implement a default 20-mph speed limit in residential areas spoke to highlight the benefits of a default 20-mph speed limit similar to what has been implemented by other Local Authorities.

DECISIONS

13.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:

(1) East Sussex County Council (ESCC) each year introduces a range of road safety improvements, which can include 20-mph schemes, traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, through the multi-faceted approach as set out in the report;

(2) ESCC is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve road safety across East Sussex, including our partners from the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership;

(3) The County Council has a finite amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and we need to ensure that we target our resources to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to our local communities. A potential scheme to introduce a default 20-mph speed limit for residential roads across East Sussex has been assessed through our approved scheme prioritisation process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time; and

(4) The new Speed Limit Programme will assess the potential for lower speed limits across all A and B class roads within the county and identify a programme of improvements. Over the next three years, more than 25 stretches of road will benefit from speed limit reductions or measures that will increase the effectiveness of existing speed limits.

REASONS

13.4     ESCC is committed to working with all stakeholders to improve road safety across East Sussex, and each year introduces a range of road safety improvements, which can include 20-mph schemes, traffic calming and pedestrian crossings, through the multi-faceted approach as set out in the report.

13.5     The County Council has a finite amount of funding to develop local transport improvements and need to ensure that resources are targeted to those schemes which will be of greatest benefit to our local communities. A potential scheme to introduce a default 20-mph speed limit for residential roads across East Sussex has been assessed through the approved process and is not a priority for the County Council at the present time.

13.6     The new Speed Limit Programme will assess the potential for lower speed limits across all A and B class roads within the county and identify a programme for improvements. Over the next three years, more than 25 stretches of road will benefit from speed limit reductions or measures that will increase the effectiveness of existing speed limits.