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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 7 December 2007

Red light halts 20mph zone bid

Green councillor laments ‘lost opportunity’ as Lib Dems insist: ‘We can’t impose ban’

Islington’s lone Green councillor Katie Dawson reacted furiously this week to the Town Hall rejection of her call for a blanket 20mph speed limit on residential roads.
Her plan – which would have been the first of its kind in London – came nail-bitingly close to winning approval at Tuesday’s full council meeting. The ruling Lib Dems forced its defeat by two votes.
Cllr Dawson, who represents Highbury West, had originally wanted a 20mph ban on all the borough’s routes, including the A1 and Holloway Road.
This was restricted to residential roads by the opposition Labour group before Tuesday’s meeting.
But Lib Dems argued that they would prefer to consult the public before introducing a ban. There are already twenty-one 20mph zones in the borough.
Cllr Dawson said: “It’s a missed opportunity. This will cost children’s lives. We would have been one of the first authorities in the land to introduce such a scheme.”
She pointed out that she was not against consultation but the 20mph scheme at Highbury Fields had taken five years of campaigning before it was introduced.
Cllr Dawson added: “It came about as a result of a small group of motivated and committed residents who kept pushing for 20mph. But the arguments for and against went backwards and forwards.”
The problem with consultation was that boundaries had to be imposed between 20mph and 30mph areas, which created complications, she said.
“They are making it so bureaucratic. You are looking at a good couple of years to get something in place, which is ridiculous when this is not a controversial issue.”
Cllr Dawson said the Parliamentary Advisory Select Committee on Transport Safety recommend the zones for all built-up urban areas. And charity Play UK backed 20mph zones, because cars outnumber children by three to one.
She added: “For a child it’s a difference between being hit at 30mph, which will probably kill you, or at 20mph, when you are likely to survive.”
Lib Dem-ruled Portsmouth has taken the lead in Britain with the trial of a blanket 20mph zone, helped with a government grant.
Cllr Dawson added: “What’s wrong with our Lib Dems? Why haven’t they got the courage of their convictions?”
Labour environment spokesman Councillor James Murray said his party was happy to support the 20mph ban on residential streets.
He added: “I’m disappointed it didn’t get through. I’m not against real consultation as argued for by the Lib Dems but it has to happen quickly. I don’t like delaying tactics.”
The Lib Dems maintain that between half and two-thirds of residential roads in the borough are already subject to a 20mph speed limit, often as a result of speed humps.
Lib Dem executive member for environment Councillor Lucy Watt said: “We are doing what Portsmouth are doing. The difference is that we want to consult with people first and take them with us. You can’t just impose this on people without asking them. We don’t want to alienate residents.”

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