There’s one week to go for people in north Croydon to say if they want most local roads to get 20mph limits.
Croydon Council launched a consultation on 13 May asking if people living in parts of South Norwood, Selhurst, Bensham Manor, Thornton Heath and Upper Norwood want all residential streets except major through roads to get the new limit.
Residents, businesses and local groups have until midnight on Wednesday, 24 June to view a map of the proposed area and give their feedback via www.croydon.gov.uk/20mph.
The plans do not include Transport for London red routes like London Road or busy through roads such as Beulah Hill or Whitehorse Lane, which will keep higher speed limits.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, 20mph limits reduce vehicle speeds and cut the risk of being injured in an accident. Other London councils, including Islington and Southwark, have already introduced borough-wide 20mph schemes.
If the consultation finds enough locals want a 20mph speed limit in the north of the borough, the council will start the formal process of implementing this. The council will consult on widespread 20mph limits in the rest of the borough from next year.
Once in place, the council would monitor traffic speeds within the 20mph roads. If speeding remains an issue, options could include police enforcement and other traffic calming measures.
“Fast driving is for motorways, not streets where people live, and we’re proposing these 20mph limits to make Croydon safer.
“Time and again, people tell me that cars go too fast on their road; that’s why we need public support if these proposals are to get anywhere.”
Councillor Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment
Once the online survey closes, the council will analyse and publish all feedback received later this summer. It will then decide whether to go forward to a wider, formal consultation later this year before the council’s traffic management committee makes final recommendations.
To view the proposals online, including a map of which roads are being consulted on, visit www.croydon.gov.uk/20mph. If you prefer to receive paper copies, contact 020 8726 6000 extension 52831.
The consultation, which was agreed at March’s Cabinet meeting, is funded by a Transport for London grant to improve road safety in Croydon.
