In December 2017, various newspapers published articles with variations of "Streets where more people died AFTER 20mph limit came in ...but councillors say it's too expensive to scrap it". They had picked up on an article in the Bath Chronicle about a report submitted by a Bath and North East Somerset Council officer to their Scrutiny Committee in July 2017. In fact the committee rejected the report and took no action as a result of it.

In fact the report did NOT include any details of "deaths" and only compared "killer or seriously injured" across various wards. In doing so it was comparing very small numbers such as 0.8 and 0,6 for previous and after periods. Any statistician will tell you that such comparisons have no statistical significance and are heavily influence by the randomness of crashes rather than representing any trends.

However we did a thorough analysis of the results in the report and these show that :-

Has your Council considered the policy options for built up area speed limits recently? Scrutiny is when back bench Councillors research best practice. It’ll find wide-area 20mph limits can save society millions in injuries, physical activity levels and air pollution. Here’s an ‘oven ready’ 20mph topic scoping template.  Please do submit it today by email via your council’s democratic services.

You may become aware of a headline in the papers today with variations of "Streets where more people died AFTER 20mph limit came in ...but councillors say it's too expensive to scrap it".

These reports are bogus and just like the famous Freddie Starr headline are untrue.

Councillors and council officers don’t always tell the truth on 20mph limits. Here we bust some more of the common myths. See also part 1 http://www.20splenty.org/council_myths about A and B roads, current average speeds over 24mph, unsupportive police and collision history.

Councillors are elected people with powers to set road speed limits locally. They are busy and do not have expertise on transport, public health or duty of care, so often take officer advice.  Ensuring they make informed decisions is key.  Activists can aim to feed Councillors ‘oven ready’, easy to digest, evidence of popular support for 20mph. Bullet point facts and myth busting by email and phone before the vote is how to ensure a YES! 

People in Wiltshire could think that their council is being progressive by its plans to allow schools to request a 20mph zone outside their school. Whilst in its press release it says :-

"We want to balance the needs of local people with the need to ensure children can travel to and from school safely, and I think this is a great way to do that"

and in its web news release actually shows a picture of a mandatory 20mph zone (you can tell its mandatory because it uses a red circle) but what we have confirmed with them is that it is actually only offering is an advisory temporary  limit which any driver with knowledge of the highway code knows is not mandatory. In fact the actual speed limit on the road remains at 30mph.

We call upon Wiltshire council to stop misinforming its parents and children about its intentions and what they can request.

Over many years the campaign in Chester has been making the case for 20mph limits for residential and busy streets. Now Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a 20mph policy which is being rolled out. Here, local campaign leader Wyn Holroyd chronicles the progress made.

Yes, it's true. Whilst across the North West councils are implementing mandatory and enforceable 20mph limits on community roads, including around schools, in Cheshire East (Macclesfield, Knutsford, Crewe, Wilmslow, Nantwich, Congleton, Holmes, Chapel, Middlewich..) the council is using expensive part-time signs that say slowing down to 20mph is advisory.

Cheshire West & Chester Councillors agreed wide area 20mph limits on 6^th January 2016. It’s a great win – both as a model for other authorities with dispersed communities and for 20’s Plenty for Chester. 

I was delighted to attend the cabinet meeting last night where Cheshire West and Chester Council approved the delegation of powers to officers for the roll-out of mandatory 20mph limits for most residential roads throughout the borough. The local 20's Plenty for Chester group were celebrating the success of many years campaigning for 20mph limits and the developing public and political support for lower speed limits in community streets.