Four new 20mph zones are to be introduced in residential areas across Leicester.
The four schemes – covering around 60 streets – were given the go ahead by Peter Soulsby, mayor of Leicester, following public consultations with local residents.
The plans were backed by at least 85% of respondents to the consultation – with one of the schemes backed by 96% of local residents.
The four new schemes, which are expected to cost in the region of £80k, are part of a city-wide programme of introducing 20mph zones in residential streets, often near to schools, where requested by residents.
Peter Soulsby said: “This ongoing programme of 20mph zones in residential areas across the city is part of the city council’s work to make roads safer for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians, and especially in areas around schools.
“These latest 20mph schemes will extend the work we’ve already done by including around 60 additional streets, in areas where residents have told us that they want to see these measures.”
Elsewhere, new Government funding to tackle air pollution in Leicester has been given a cautious welcome by the city’s deputy city mayor with responsibility for environmental issues.
As part of its Air Quality Action Plan, launched in 2015, Leicester City Council has committed to delivering a clean air zone by 2026, or sooner if possible.
The plan also commits to extending the city’s ‘Connecting Leicester’ works to promote sustainable travel such as walking and cycling – with 11 schemes completed since 2015.
Its more than likely that they will reach their target of pollution by 2026 but that will not be as a result of the reduction of vehicular speeds down to 20 mph . More likely the development of lower polluting vehicles by the car manufacturers both for petrol and diesel alike and the improvement regarding diesel busses and HGVs etc, That together with the manufacture of more negative polluting vehicles powered by other fuels. That’s why the air pollution situation will be much lower by 2026.
R.Craven
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Hugh
The elected mayor in Leicester has had responsibility to “sign off” all decisions since 2011 when the first elected mayor took office.
Rod
Rod King, Lymm
0
Interesting that – according to the article anyway – a UK city’s mayor apparently has the final say on a local speed limit.
Also, with 85% support for a local speed limit, imagine the fun to be had if the government in another moment of madness, decided to have a referendum on..national speed limits!
Hugh Jones
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