LIB DEM SPEED CAMPAIGN GETS GOVERNMENT BACKING (Durham Liberal Democrats)

Durham Liberal Democrats <info@durhamlibdems.org.uk>

LIB DEM SPEED CAMPAIGN GETS GOVERNMENT BACKING

December 16, 2009 12:00 AM

A long-running Lib Dem campaign to cut speeding in built-up areas and outside of schools has been boosted today by new Government guidance urging all Councils to implement the policy. The Labour County Council had refused to support these speed cuts when the Lib Dems called on the Council to do so in September.

Lib Dem County Councillor, Carol Woods, said, "At the end of September, fellow Councillor Mark Wilkes and I put a motion to the Council calling for speed limits of 20mph in all residential areas and outside of schools. However, the Labour council refused to support the motion, choosing to put off the action needed to make our roads safer.

"In light of the Council's refusal to cut speed limits, I am pleased to see that the Government is today issuing new guidance to all Councils urging them to reduce limits to 20mph in all residential areas and outside schools. This is a commonsense approach to a very serious problem. A recent study by the British Medical Association has shown that 20mph limits are an effective way of reducing injuries and fatalities on our roads.

"I will now be pressing Durham County Council to reverse their decision and to implement speed cuts as soon as is practical. Their refusal to do so when the issue came up in September was a petty act of party politics. I have written to the Leader of the Council today asking him what steps the Council intend to take to implement this new guidance.

"We need to take a proactive approach to improving road safety, rather than the current policy of waiting for a serious accident before acting. Now that the Government have issued this guidance Durham should lead the way on this issue."