Agenda item

To consider the attached PICK from. We hope to have David Sprunt and Vicky Duff, two officers from ECC Transportation Strategy and Engagement section attend the meeting to give their expert opinion on this proposal.

David Sprunt is from the Transportation Strategy & Engagement, Economic Growth and Development and Vicky Duff is the Network Management Group Manager, Highways.

The Committee welcomed David Sprunt, from the Essex Transportation Strategy and Engagement, Economic Growth; and Vicky Duff, the Essex Network Management Group Manager. They were there to enlighten the committee on those facts and policies used by Essex County Council and the guidance issued by the Department of Transport on road speeds, especially relating to the implementation of 20mph limits. A copy of their presentation are attached to theses minutes.

The Committee noted that:

·         That Essex CC had a Speed Management Strategy advised by the Department of Transport circular 01/2013;

·         It had been established by research that 20mph speed limits generally only led to small reductions in traffic speeds – as established at Portsmouth;

·         The latest advice was that a mix of 20mph limits and 20mph zones would be better, providing that the signing was correct;

·         The objective would be that ‘any 20mph restrictions should be self-enforcing’;

·         Any 20mph limit of zone would require a Speed Limit Order, which had to be consulted on;

·         The current policy allowed for the consideration of 20mph limits on local roads if the mean speeds were between 24 and 29mph, only then would the Cabinet Member consider putting in a 20mph restriction;

·         At the beginning of the limits there would have to be clear signage and also at the end of the restrictions. There would also have to be repeater signs along the route;

·         20mph zones had traffic calming measures e.g. speed humps, chicanes etc. these zones applied not just to one road but to whole areas, such as estates;

·         It was noted that generally people did not like them and the low speeds over traffic calming measures also produced more noise for residents;

·         The most effective method for reducing speed was the use of chicanes, but it needed some major engineering work to put them in;

·         20mph signs could be used a calming feature but they would not physically reduce the speeds;

·         The county also has a “20’s plenty” scheme used mainly outside schools, but very little reductions in speeds were achieved;

·         This scheme was also trying to affect the children’s behaviour as well as their parents;

·         Advisory speed limit signs could be also be used outside schools, they were not mandatory and thus no speed limit order was required;

·         Before a scheme was put into place, information was required in the form of speed surveys, traffic surveys and collision data;

·         It was noted that a lot of areas in Essex did not have high collision rates for Children and pedestrians;

·         Repeat signage in an area tended to create clutter on those roads;

·         Essex police did not have the resources to enforce these areas.

The meeting was then opened out to questions from the members.

Councillor Neville thanked the officers for attending the meeting. He asked why Essex had opted for at first having mean speeds of between 24 to 29mph before they would consider putting in a 20mph limit, as the Department of Transport note for guidance did not stipulate this. Ms Duff replied that the guidance mentioned small reductions I traffic speeds if below 24mph would lead to general compliance. If you did not have compliance from the public then the police would have a lot of enforcing work to do. If speed limits were put in arbitrarily then you would be asking  for a major cultural shift, equivalent to the one for the use of seat belts and for drinking and driving. The police would not be able to enforce this change. Essex CC cabinet members were happy to put in 20mph limits where the average speed was less than 24mph, on the understanding that the police could not enforce it.

Councillor Neville said that there was evidence that the average speed in Portsmouth went down by as much as 6 or 7mph, how could that fit into our network in Essex. Ms Duff said that Essex had a road hierarchy, from Motorways, to ‘A’ roads and primary routes networks – these PR1 routes were primarily about moving traffic; the PR2 network was primarily about moving traffic unless it went into a local settlement. Only local roads could be considered for speed reductions and only if their mean speed was 24mph or below.

Councillor Surtees noted that the 20mph zones in Harlow were effective and so were the use of advisory signs. How much of this reduction was down to making drivers aware of the limits. Ms Duff replied that advisory signs could be considered for some PR2 routes.

Councillor Waller noted that the ability to change speed limits without reference to the government was a relatively recent innovation. This seems to be the default limit in most urban areas, but widely ignored when introduced in some London Boroughs, especially when applied to main roads. The Essex policy was a sensible one. Where average speeds were 30mph plus, a new limit would not reduce this and would encourage contempt for speed limits in general. The police tended to ignore the enforcement in London as it was resource intensive. Also, cars in low gear tended to create more pollution. Speed limits should only be introduced in circumstances where they can be justified.

Mr Sprunt agreed that compliance had always been an issue. If the limit was not reasonable for the road then it would get ignored. It would also put additional burdens on the highway authorities and the police. Traffic calming measures were not liked because of their impact on the cars and also how it affected some people with disabilities. If the limits were introduced across the district it would encourage people to ignore the limits and bring it into disrepute.

Councillor Patel commented that the submitted PICK form said that implementation by other authorities costed around £3 per head. How much would it cost in Essex?  Ms Duff said that the scheme in Portsmouth costed over £450,000 and the police thought another £500,000 in signage and the maintenance of the signs. In some places they were struggling to get drivers down to 30mph. There was a need to identify the appropriate areas for this. Portsmouth was for the majority a residential area, it was a major project and the resulting average drop is speed across the whole network was just 1mph. Spending needed to be targeted better to achieve better results.

Councillor Brady asked if there were a lot of towns in Essex to have 20mph zones. She was told that Harlow was one of the first to have it. There were some individual roads in Loughton. They had tried it on some rural roads in Brentwood, but it had not really worked. It was noted that people in modern cars were very isolated from the conditions outside. Speed humps were designed to be taken at 15mph but modern cars could take them faster. Councillor Brady replied that she had seen them slow down cars in her ward, they did help. She was most concerned about the traffic outside schools; in her area cars tended to be parked on both sides. She noted that in some countries 20mph was mandatory outside schools, could this be done here. Ms Duff said they could do this but it was most likely that the traffic was moving more slowly than 20mph. They were also loath to put in parking restrictions as parked cars tended to slow down traffic. This was why traffic surveys were needed for each area to identify problems.

Councillor Sartin asked if County Highways had any money to carry out any of these schemes. Mr Sprunt said that the Local Highways Panel now have the money.

Councillor Sartin noted that some country roads have 40mph limits for short distances, why was that? Mr Sprunt said he suspected that they were put in before the Local Highways Panel was set up. Ms Duff added that they would have to have a speed regulation order; this would have to be agreed by the Police who would have to say if they could enforce it.

Councillor Sartin thanked the County Officers for their presentation and information on the background to putting in a 20mph limit for the district. There was enough information to take to the parent Committee.