Conservative council's lack of commitment condemned

9.52.50pm GMT Mon 26th Nov 2007

Liz Leffman, prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Meon Valley, has condemned Conservative-led Hampshire County Council for its lack of commitment to creating safe 20mph zones around Hampshire's schools.

Liz and Lib Dem councillors and campaigners have been calling for compulsory 20mph speed limits outside schools for months. But Hampshire County Council has only introduced a voluntary scheme and is requiring schools to pay for road signs themselves.

It has now been revealed that fewer than one-in-five schools have signed up to the council's new "advisory" 20mph sign scheme, which costs the schools £200 to install two signs or £450 with posts.

"The figures prove that the advisory speed limit sign scheme launched by HCC will not work. I am not surprised, though, when schools are being asked to dip into their own limited budgets to pay for the signs," Liz said.

"It has been proven that accidents involving children fall by two thirds in areas with the reduced speed limit, yet our Conservative-led County Council is not willing to spend money on our children's safety.

"I and the Lib Dem team will continue to call for compulsory 20mph limits outside our schools and, at the very least, I would like to see the council supply signs free of charge to schools who want to sign up to their voluntary scheme."