More 20mph zones to be introduced in Wiltshire

More residential streets could become 20mph zones under new plans unveiled by Wiltshire Council.

At a meeting of the council’s Cabinet on Wednesday, Cllr Martin Smith, the portfolio holder for transport, said the scheme would apply to “appropriate” roads that are currently 30mph.

“Moving to 20 mph speed limits leads to a reduction in casualties of about 25 per cent,” he told colleagues.

“The Welsh experience in the first year showed that they had 100 fewer deaths, so the data is very robust in that respect.”

There was no opposition to the announcement from other parties.

The new policy will apply to residential areas, village centres, town centres and places with high levels of walking and cycling.

Cllr Smith said that in such areas “the presumption will be that 20mph restrictions will be allowed.”

To make the process easier, requests for restrictions will be decided by officers rather than going through committees.

The council will fund the assessment work and any required data collection and the Traffic Regulation Order process for eligible 20mph proposals.

Town and parish councils will then fund the physical measures required on the ground, such as signs and road markings.

For speed limits of 30mph and above, decisions will continue to be based on detailed assessments that consider factors including collision history, traffic speeds, road function, local concerns, road layout and the mix of road users.

Rather than relying solely on speed surveys taken at a single location, assessments will consider speeds along entire routes to provide a more accurate picture of how roads are used.

After the meeting, Cllr Smith said: “This policy provides a more straightforward route for communities that want to introduce 20mph limits in suitable locations, while also recognising that speed limits are only one part of improving road safety.

“Creating safer roads and stronger communities is a key part of Our Wiltshire Plan. By helping people feel safer when walking, wheeling and cycling, while taking a proportionate and evidence-led approach to speed management, this policy will support healthier, better-connected communities across the county.

“By bringing together speed management, engineering solutions and partnership working with local communities and the police, we can continue working towards our goal of reducing serious and fatal collisions on Wiltshire’s roads.”