Fresh calls for compulsory 20mph school limit

10.59.43pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 25th Oct 2007

Liz Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, is pressurising Tory-led Hampshire County Council to rethink their proposed policy of "advisory" 20mph speed limits around schools in favour of making them compulsory.

As reported in The Independent newspaper last week, accidents involving children fall by two thirds in areas with the reduced speed limit - yet the Lib Dem campaign for 20mph limits outside schools in Meon Valley has been largely ignored.

Liz and Lib Dem councillors and campaigners have been calling for compulsory 20mph speed limits outside schools for months now, yet the response from HCC has been to offer only "advisory" limits.

"I find it incredible that not only will the county council not commit to 20mph zones close to schools, but if the schools want to put up a sign they have to pay for it themselves!" Liz said.

Last week saw the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) report advocate a reduction in the default speed limit in built-up areas from 30mph to 20mph across the country, which Liz hopes may entice the council to rethink their school speed limit policy.

She added: "Although the Pacts proposals reported in the national news were not directly aimed solely at school areas, the fact the subject is now more widely talked about will hopefully lead to some action from our county council.

"A great move would be for them to introduce the 20mph speed limits that we want, but I hope that they will now at least consider supplying the advisory signs to schools free of charge."