York considers 20mph policy

Residential areas in York could soon be limited to 20 miles an hour.

After years of campaigning the council are discussing the plans.

It could be rolled out in the city over the next three years.

If it's a success it could then be enforced in smaller villages too.

City of York Council Statement:

City of York Council's Cabinet member for City Strategy, Councillor Dave Merrett, will consider plans to roll out 20mph speed limits to residential areas across the city.

The Cabinet gave a commitment to roll out 20mph speed limits in residential areas to improve the local environment for residents, promote more considerate driving and increase confidence about safety on York's streets, last May.

The council has also received a number of petitions requesting 20mph speed limits on a number of roads across the city.

Following detailed discussions with the police and road safety officers, and the work done for the extended South bank pilot area, the Cabinet member will consider plans to engage with residents on the initiative and to implement a phased roll out of 20mph speed limits to the residential areas and larger villages first, as evidence suggests that average speeds are already close to 20 - 24mph there.

Roll out will run round the city clockwise West, North and South East over the next two to three years. 20mph limits will also be considered for roll out to small villages, many of which are through routes with higher speeds, further into the initiative when more evidence is available on the best way of reducing traffic speeds for those types of roads.

Cllr Dave Merrett, Cabinet member for City Strategy, said:

"This is an exciting initiative to improve road safety and the quality of residential areas in the city. A key aspect will be engagement with residents on how we can work together to get traffic speeds down and make our roads safer, but without the traditional and extremely expensive approach of putting lots of road humps in."