Speed calming held back by 'old' policuy

Published on 18th January 2007 in News

Goole could soon see 20 mph speed limits enforced on all its new housing estates following a determined bid by a number of East Riding councillors.

The latest move was proposed by Cllr Jean Kitchen at the East Riding full council meeting last Wednesday, January 10, as she told council members that on new housing estates in Leeds and Doncaster there were 20 mph speed restrictions in place on entering. She felt this should be the same in Goole to protect children playing in the area.

"Over the last two or three years I have had complaints from residents about cars speeding into, out of, and around new housing developments in Goole," said Cllr Kitchen.

"On new housing estates, partly because of their design, children play on the roads and there is a need to slow traffic down. Other authorities do incorporate these 20 mph restrictions on their new housing developments, and I am asking that East Riding of Yorkshire Council do the same."

But Cllr Kitchen said that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) is restricted by an old Humberside policy, made in the early 1980s, which does not require such conditions on speed restrictions to be made. She told councillors that the authority should not have to adhere to a 25-year-old policy set by the former Humberside County Council.

Fellow Liberal Democrat Cllr Anita Kay, added: "Our council's policy, we are told, restricts us from reducing the speed limit on housing developments - this is madness.

"Where there is a need to reduce the speed of traffic around children, then the council should act more responsibly and do so, keeping in line with other forward-thinking authorities."

Council members agreed that the proposal, which comes at a time when the ERYC is reviewing its planning policies, will be considered by a council scrutiny committee.

Cllr Terry Allison, leader of the ERYC's Labour group, told the Goole Times this week that the ERYC must work with police to ensure that the proposal was 'enforceable.'

He said: "The Labour group doesn't disagree with the proposal but we want to see 20 mph zones implemented outside schools as well, not just new housing estates. Myself and Cllr Christine Arnold have been pushing for a 20 mph speed limit outside East Cowick School for quite some time to cut down on the number of accidents happening there.

"But we wouldn't want to see 20 mph zone in a place where it's not enforceable, that is why the proposal has been referred to a council scrutiny committee. We need to work in conjunction with the police to make sure this is right; if it's not enforceable then it's no good."