20mph speed limits opponent calls for public to have their say
A prominent vocal opponent of reduced 20mph limits in Highland communities has urged people to make their voices heard in the consultation over making them permanent which launched this week. Highland Council has signalled its intent to make the reduced limits – part of a pilot project – permanent. Councillor Ruraidh Stewart, leader of the Conservative group on Highland Council, believes rural wards will be “disproportionately affected”.
“20mph speed limits near schools and heavily populated residential areas sensible, whereas on A roads passing through low trafficked rural areas (replacing 30mph restrictions) is nonsensical, unnecessarily increases journey time and causes frustration. Also, the cost of this scheme would be better spent on essential services. The real problem with speeding vehicles is the very occasional idiot passing through rural areas well in excess of the existing 30mph speed limits. A 20mph restriction will not stop those so inclined.” – R Perry, Kinlochewe
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“Councillor Stewart laments the 20mph scheme’s ‘unnecessary delays and hardships’, yet points to council data showing an average speed loss of just 1.7mph. This hardly seems like a great hardship! Furthermore, he bemoans the £450k spent on the scheme so far while advocating for its reversal – an effort that would surely impose a similar cost. I ask him: can you justify another half a million pounds for the sake of a measly 1.7mph? Would that money not be better spent on road improvements and bypasses for bottlenecks like Nairn? That way local people and tourists can travel more safely under the 20mph regime, while through-traffic continues without impediment.” – Duncan Blair, Stratton
“20mph ridiculous – it will and does cause more frustration and anger than they realise. I don’t see the need for it, 30mph has been fine for years.” – John Geddes, Inverness
“You can have any speed limit you want declared but if it is not backed up by enforcement then no one will bother. It would seem like our councillors are trying to jump on the green band wagon with no thought of how to enforce their ideas.” – John Lawrie
“20mph is OK in housing schemes but main roads that are classified as a 20mph now should be 30mph. Inverness traffic is bad enough but at 20mph is nonsense. I believe that Wales is thinking about putting it back up to 30mph. I would keep the 20mph up through Academy Street because the road surface is a disgrace and this council should be addressing this, but 30mph speed limits should be reinstated.” – Jim Mitchell
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