20mph Limit on nearly all of Formby's Roads

WITH traffic becoming a hot political issue, will reducing the speed limit of nearly all the roads in Formby help with safety and the environment? In 2012 the Department for Transport published advice on 20mph zones, saying that:- "there was evidence that a 20mph speed limit results in a reduced number of collisions and serious injuries, improved the environment and encouraged walking and cycling." London also could see 20mph speed limit on nearly all residential streets by 2020, according to an announcement made at the beginning of June 2013. Not surprisingly the reaction has been very bad with many Londoners saying that they are aghast this move. The same arguments for a reduction in speed have been used for Formby, with the local Council saying that it has benefits for road safety and improves quality of life for residents, plus it encourages cycling and walking. In the Formby Area Committee documents, dated 7 March 2013, entitled:- "2013 - 20mph Speed Limits - Late Objections", it is stated under, "Why is Sefton introducing widespread 20mph speed limits?" that it is:- "In line with Central Govt Policy, the bigger the area the more effective both casualty and speed reduction as proven by the Portsmouth Model." But this well-intentioned safety policy might backfire in environmental terms and also in the pockets of many local residents!   In 2000, the then Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions argued against reducing the 30mph limit for fear of increasing emissions, so what is the change? On 30 May 2013, Labour Councillor Nina Killen, who has 3 young children, said on Twitter she said:- "All roads in Formby except Liv Rd, Altcar Rd, Church Rd and Southport Rd to be made 20mph - good for safety and the environment." and also press statement that:- "20's plenty for this part of Formby."  Both of the statements have raised eye brows.  According to the AA "Targeted 20mph speed limits in residential areas are popular and improve safety. Along shorter roads with junctions and roundabouts, limiting acceleration to up to 20mph reduces fuel consumption. But on local distributor roads a 30mph limit may be more environmentally friendly." the AA also say that:- "Cutting the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph on the wrong roads can increase CO2 emissions by more than 10%!" The AA's fuel consumption tests that were carried out at Millbrook by an independent engineer and car tester, using a fuel flow meter showed that:- "With an average petrol car, fuel consumption on longer and relatively free flowing 20mph urban streets can worsen by 5.8 miles per gallon (1.3 miles/litre). Over a year this will significantly increase CO2 emissions, burning 1 litre of unleaded petrol produces 2.36kg of CO2." So will this blanket policy be a good idea for all of Sefton not just Formby?  Also is it a good idea for Formby?  One idea that has been voiced but not been picked up on is a time change speed limit, that has areas set to 20mph during set times of the day. This would free up roads at times when they are quiet, like at night. Also reducing the environmental impact of the 20mph limits. Another issue is that most cars struggle to keep to 20mph, as one driver, local resident, put it:- "It's going to be a nightmare driving at 20mph as your car is just not geared to go at those speeds on long roads, like say Victoria Road." Members of the Formby Area Committee (FAC)   in a meeting on 10 January 2013 agreed that the 20mph zone will include Victoria Road and Gores Lane. This, as one resident has said:- "In environmental terms and economic terms it's madness!" Others have complained that lack of media publicity about the 20mph has also been flagged by many.   A statement on Labour's Bill Esterson MP website says that:- "A total of 1,581 households in the affected area of Formby were consulted. 42% of households responded to the consultation - 71% of whom were in favour of a 20mph restriction.", but many more affected did households have said that they never got asked!  Sefton has responded to the statements that the proposals were not widely publicised by saying:- "The consultation process was carried out in accordance with normal Council policy. All 1581 properties contained within the proposed 20 mph area were letter dropped. The proposals were also included on the Council's website for anyone within or outside the proposed 20 mph area to respond. Those who responded from outside the area were included in the consultation results reported to FAC - 10/1/2013. Adverts for objections are advertised in the local press, site notices are erected." With reference to an email we have received asking why we did not put the information on the our online newspaper, oddly this statement about "local press" did not include our website, as we, like many of Formby's residents, we could not question the Council for our readers on this major issue, as they have not kept us up-to-date. On other occasions when we have contacted Sefton about this we have been told we that:- "You can go to Sefton's website to get information!" The Council has also stated that:- "The 20 mph consultation was undertaken in accordance with all relevant legislation. Some authorities do not letter drop, preferring to just use their website." We would like to know from our readers how many of them feel that the Council has not kept the public properly informed on this issue. Also are you for the 20mph limit? Many Road Safety campaigners do argue that the reduction from 30mph to 20mph is a good thing and in the figures published by Portsmouth, in their "Interim Evaluation of the Implementation of 20mph Speed Limits in Portsmouth Final Report - September 2010" does state clearly that:- "Comparing the 3 years before the scheme was implemented and the 2 years afterwards, the number of recorded road casualties has fallen by 22% from 183 per year to 142 per year.  During that period casualty numbers fell nationally, by about 14% in comparable areas." To see the report go to the Department for Transport website or click here. Also figures show it is safer for a pedestrian to walk on the streets when the area has a 20mph limit.  The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in 2009, found that the likelihood of a pedestrian being killed when hit by a car are:-

► 90% hit at 40mph.
► 20% hit at 30mph.
► 3% hit at 20mph.

We would like to give you more figures and information about this move by Sefton, but we are still awaiting a reply to our email asking for more information. You can also read our related news report, in this weeks issue by clicking on here. But no matter what, ever since the introduction of speed limits, motoring advocacy groups, anti-motoring groups and others have differed, some considering them to be irrelevant, others set too low or too high. So let us know are you opposed or for? Email us your views, both for and against to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

AA Fuel consumption figures Are as follows:-

► 30mph/20mph/speed humps petrol car consumption figures.

► Steady 30mph (4th gear) - 60.7 mpg (small petrol car), 55.6 mpg (medium petrol car) = 58.15 mpg (average).

► Steady 20mph (3rd gear) - 55.5 mpg (small petrol car), 49.1 mpg (medium petrol car) = 52.3 mpg (average).

► Speed humps (6 over 1/2 mile at 20mph to 30 mph) - 33.8 mpg (small petrol car),  27.9 mpg (medium petrol car) = 30.85 mpg (average).

30mph / 20mph / speed humps petrol car consumption differences:-

► Change 30 mph zone to 20 mph - increases fuel consumption by 5.85 miles per gallon, or 10.1%.

► Add speed humps to a 30 mph zone - increases fuel consumption by 27.3 miles per gallon, or 46.9%.