Plans to complete a borough-wide 20mph speed limit on residential roads in Croydon could get a simpler consultation process under changes going for approval to the council’s cabinet later this month.
Last year Croydon Council divided the borough into five parts to begin consulting residents area by area on the 20mph proposals, with first an optional opinion survey and then a statutory consultation.
Area 1, covering all residential roads in north Croydon except major through routes, went live in September after this two-stage process, and Area 2 in north-east Croydon will go live by next April. Police have already been monitoring and catching speeding drivers in Area 1 streets since they became 20mph.
Now the council wants to make sure of hitting its March 2018 implementation timetable by formally consulting the three remaining areas at the same time in January and February 2017. The recommendation, being considered on 12 December by the council’s cabinet, involves:
• Removing the optional opinion-seeking survey
• Running simultaneous formal consultation on Areas 3, 4 and 5
• Continuing to fully meet the council’s legal requirements to formally consult on the plans
The cabinet report states that the change is necessary to meet the March 2018 timetable because engagement on areas 1 and 2 took longer than expected, and that this would simplify the consultation process.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, introducing 20mph limits reduces vehicle speeds and cuts the risk of being injured or killed in an accident. Other London councils, including Islington and Southwark, have already introduced borough-wide 20mph schemes.
“These changes are aimed at helping us complete a borough-wide 20mph limit, which has been proven elsewhere to cut the risk of accidents to road users and improve the local environment.
“This makes our 20mph consultation process simpler and more like what other London boroughs have done, and every household and business in the three areas will get to have their say.”
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment
