Mayor Election 2016 / News
Mayoral candidate promises 20mph review
Conservative mayoral candidate Charles Lucas has promised a review of 20mph zones in Bristol, pledging to scrap them where they are not wanted by local residents, if he is elected.
The Clifton councillor said he opposed the “blanket roll-out” of the zones which he claims are “unenforceable and unnecessarily restrictive”.
The final zone in the 20mph jigsaw went live in September. The policy was supported by mayor George Ferguson, but started by the previous Lib Dem administration.
Councillors voted to halt the spread of the 20mph zones, but were overruled by Ferguson. Facing further demands from a public petition the mayor said it would be “unthinkable” to reverse the policy – comparing it to removing the smoking ban.
Lucas told Bristol24/7: “I, along with my colleagues in the Conservative Group, have campaigned against this blanket roll out.
“Together with local residents we agree there are certain locations where 20mph is a good idea and should be introduced in places such as outside schools, play areas, hospitals and in narrow residential roads where residents want them. But a blanket roll out across the city is wrong and unnecessary.”
The roll-out has cost the council around £2.3 million. A petition in favour of scrapping the policy has gathered more than 8,000 signatures. A rival petition in support of the policy has gathered over 3,300, just short of the 3,500 needed to trigger another council debate.
Lucas, who was announced as the Conservative mayoral candidate in October, said: “I believe local residents should be allowed to decide where these limits are introduced and that it should not be a blanket roll-out. Residents should be consulted and not simply told what is best for them by Mayor George Ferguson.
“If I am elected mayor in May I will review the 20mph limits throughout the city and only keep those where necessary and where they are wanted. I will let local residents decide.”
George Ferguson said evidence that the 20mph is safer is recognised by local authorities across the country.
“In the last few weeks alone doctors from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have argued that more 20mph zones will promote safe play and encourage children to walk, scoot or cycle to school,” he added.
is needed now More than ever
“Lots of Conservatives recognise this and Charles should speak to his colleague Boris Johnson who has rolled out 20mph limits across London and is a big fan of the scheme.”
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