20mph speed limits: What happens next?

But it looks increasingly likely 20mph speed limits are going to be rolled out in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, should the council’s cabinet get what it wants. 

BCP Council deputy leader Millie Earl announced in early January it was the authority’s “intention” to roll out the reduced speed limits. 

‘They've made up their mind’ 

MUCH fury has come from people who don’t want to see slower speed limits in the conurbation. 

Councillors, residents and most of the Echo’s letter writers are strongly against a blanket change to our roads. 

Opposition leader Phil Broadhead said the council’s intentions are “extremely worrying” and not what the Lib Dems campaigned for in the election last May, saying he warned a vote for them would “see a return to anti-car measures”. 

Meanwhile senior independent Bournemouth councillor Stephen Bartlett questioned where the evidence to support the need for 20mph limits is – as officers have always told him there isn’t any. 

Cllr Phil Broadhead (Image: Daily Echo)

Cllr Bartlett added: “My interpretation here is the administration has made its mind up about what it wants to do and I don’t think they’re serious about the consultation. 

“[They’re] going to have a really hard time because the majority of people that I have spoken to are totally against this.” 

Christchurch Independent councillor Margaret Phipps described it as a “flawed process” and that there has been “no openness and transparency” from the administration. 

She said: “We’re faced here without any consultation whatsoever with our residents with the possibility of 20mph speed limits across BCP.”  

Poole MP Sir Robert Syms said implementing a general 20mph speed limit is "nuts", adding it’s “unpopular” in London and Wales and will “upset” residents. 

An Echo poll in November showed 82 per cent of 2,871 people would not support a blanket 20mph speed limit, 17 per cent would and one per cent didn't know. 

Some residents have told the Echo 20mph speed limits are “daft and unrealistic” and “will slow traffic down to such an extent that congestion will increase exponentially creating more car fumes, a less clean air environment and angry drivers”. 

‘Better road safety’ 

THOSE in favour of reduced speed limits have mostly been arguing it will improve the safety on our roads and reduce injuries and fatalities. 

The Three Towns Alliance administration, led by the Lib Dems, seem set on introducing lower speed limits. 

Council leader Vikki Slade said not every road will be 20mph, but “we need to assess the best way of making those roads safe”. 

Cllr Earl said: “We have a 97.5 per cent chance of survival if you’re struck by a vehicle going 20mph compared to 80 per cent if you’re going at 30mph.  

Council leader Vikki Slade (Image: Richard Crease)

“That’s because the stopping distances are a lot shorter, we have a lot more control and it slows everything down.” 

Cllr Felicity Rice said: “I became a councillor because of a seven-year-old boy who was killed by a driver walking to school. 

"There has been discussion about how to prioritise each road and asking residents, but obviously children don’t get asked. The leading cause of death in children is road danger.” 

Environment cabinet member Andy Hadley added: “It is horrible for anyone involved in scraping people off the ground or going to relatives to say, ‘I’m sorry but there’s been a bad accident’.” 

Meanwhile Cycling Rebellion founder Adam Osman called on BCP Council to “be bold” and make all residential roads and high streets a default 20mph speed limit. 

He said the council has “not gone far enough” in its proposal, questioning where the authority got its £300m ‘dream figure’ needed to make all roads 20mph. 

Of the benefits of a default speed limit, Mr Osman said it would eradicate driver distraction from changing signs and monitoring speed limits which “would cause more mistakes”. 

Some fear 20mph will lead to more congestion (Image: Daily Echo)

‘Straight, white men affected’ 

AUTHORITIES have been raising concerns about how they, and other people, may be affected by 20mph speed limits. 

BCP Council said in a report that “men, middle aged groups, people without a disability, white British, heterosexuals and Christians will generally consider their freedoms associated with driving are being compromised”. 

The report added some groups of people who rely on cars for work, such as taxi drivers, carers or disabled people, will also be affected. 

Dorset Police has said it “will not be able to supply additional resources to monitor and enforce any” speed reduction, but it would support a reduction where “clear evidence” indicates a drop in crashes.   

Meanwhile Go South Coast (owners of Morebus) warned that if not carefully considered, a drop to 20mph could “increase operational costs leading to some routes no longer being commercially viable”.  

The company added 20mph speed limits should be in place on roads “where it is appropriate”. 

What next? 

DESPITE the concerns of how 20mph speed limits came about and whether a consultation will be held, the administration has said it will ask residents for their thoughts. 

Leader Vikki Slade has said: “Nothing happens without a consultation and a full democratic process, nothing will happen without the involvement of the public and councillors.” 

Cllr Earl added the authority is looking to consult with a ‘have your say’ approach to 20mph limits in the areas where there are the most crashes “as a starting point”. 

But Cllr Phipps said the process so far has been ‘back to front’, explaining the residents should have been asked before any reports were made. 

Cabinet is expected to discuss the report in a meeting this April, where recommendations will be put forward. This includes prioritising initially rolling out 20mph speed limits outside schools before other residential areas. 

Officers at the council have said £149k will be needed in 2024/25 to start rolling out lower speed limits in high priority roads, should it plough on with plans. 

Nothing is set in concrete right now, but what we do know is that the council’s most senior councillors have stated they intend to bring in 20mph speed limits – no matter how much residents put up a fight.