Many More 20mph Zones Coming to Hammersmith and Fulham
But no borough-wide scheme, following consultation with residents
Hammersmith and Fulham Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan has announced that many more 20mph zones are on their way to Hammersmith and Fulham - but following a consultation with residents this summer, there will not be a blanket borough-wide scheme.
Writing on his blog The Cowan Report, he says:
" Reducing traffic speeds saves lives. It’s also the significant factor in reducing the severity of any traffic injury.
" That’s why cities around the world, such as New York with its Vision Zero scheme, and councils across the UK are doing their best to reduce traffic speeds and provide safer zones in residential and high accident rate areas.
" On 9 June 2015 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced his target to halve the number of people killed or seriously injured on London's roads by 2020 – which would mean a reduction of more than 14,000 Londoners’ unnecessary deaths or serious injuries by 2020.
" And just over a year earlier and after having carried out borough-wide manifesto consultation meetings with residents from all political persuasions, my fellow Labour councillors and I were elected with a manifesto commitment to extend the number of 20 mph safer zones in Hammersmith and Fulham.
" So last year, also on 9 June, Hammersmith and Fulham Council began a formal 9-week consultation with local residents about extending the 20 mph safer zones to more of the Borough’s streets."
The results of the consultation can be summarised as:
45% Yes to all the roads H&F Council is responsible for
26% Yes but not on main roads listed by each respondent
29% No, not on any more of the Borough’s roads
Cllr Cowan continues: " The formal consultation produced a 71% majority to introduce some form of increase in the number of 20 mph roads. There have also been two public Policy and Accountability (PAC) meetings were residents attended and took part in the discussions. Since then officials have been studying the details of the roads highlighted by the 26%. They will shortly be bringing proposals forward.
" Back in 1999 I worked with residents and businesses to introduce the 20 mph Grove Home Zone in Hammersmith. By 2005, rat-running through the area had reduced by 27%, speeds had dropped by over 10% and, along with other 20 mph safer zones, it contributed to accident rates falling across Hammersmith and Fulham by 72%.
" The Council's highways's officials will soon bring proposals forward that match the results of the formal consultation. That means there will not be a blanket borough-wide 20 mph scheme but the council will add many more 20 mph safer zones.
" Those will paid for by Transport for London who are rightly determined to reach the Mayor's accident reduction figures and in the process it will save the lives of, and reduce the seriousness of injuries of, people living in, working in and visiting our borough."
You can read Cllr Cowan's message in full at The Cowan Report.
January 20, 2016
