Dorset’s town and parish councils can now apply online for 20mph speed limits and zones, following the introduction of a new policy.
Schemes will need to meet certain requirements, and there should be community support.
Cllr Simon Gibson, Lead Member for Highways at Dorset Council, said: “We worked closely with town and parish councils, our own councillors, and Dorset Police over many months to develop a policy that will work for local areas, enabling schemes that offer the maximum benefit for their communities.
“The new process brings a consistent approach to dealing with applications for 20mph speed limits or zones, with a policy that is: implementable by considering national guidance; affordable, placing minimum strain on council budgets; and enforceable by the Police.
“Over the next 12 months we will see what works and what doesn’t and amend the process accordingly.”
Town/parish councils or local ward members (Dorset councillors) should submit an application form to begin the process.
Our Road Safety Team will work with town and parish councils to complete an assessment once an application is submitted.
Each application will be assessed against a set of requirements, and we will fund those schemes deemed to be a high priority. Town and parish councils will have the opportunity to self-fund lower priority schemes.
Schemes must offer the maximum benefit for the affected communities. This includes quality of life, healthier lifestyles, sustainability and environmental benefits, alongside other important considerations such as reduction of collisions.
Brian Austin, Road Safety Operations Manager for Dorset Police, said: “We welcome the new streamlined process for communities to apply for a change to a 20mph speed restriction in their area.
“We have agreed with the local authority that 20mph zones should ‘look and feel’ like 20mph zones including a clear indication you’re entering the area through relevant signage and street furniture.
“All of our road safety deployments are carried out based on the level of threat, risk and harm, therefore it is anticipated that the vast majority of our speed enforcement activity will be in the higher speed restriction areas of the county. Enforcement in 20mph zones will only be carried out when there is a significant risk from continuous high speeds.
“We support the need for communities to actively consider the establishment of a Community Speed Watch which will provide data on the levels of increased speed in the area to allow more targeted enforcement.”
Residents interested in the implementation of new 20mph speed limits in their local area should contact their town or parish council or local Dorset councillor (ward member).
Communities considering a 20mph scheme are strongly encouraged to establish a Community Speed Watch Scheme as a way of gaining evidence of existing speeds and encouraging improved compliance with the speed limit.
We will also actively promote the installation of 20mph schemes, where appropriate, on new residential developments. Such developments have long been designed in a way to encourage speeds at or below 20mph. Where practical, the extent of a 20mph scheme associated with a new development should look to include any adjoining residential areas to ensure consistency in a residential area.
I have worked with the Burton Bradstock Speed Watch Team for 3 years!!!! We have all the evidence ended and yet still waiting. We desperately need a 20 MPH speed limit in force and more visible deterrents. We have been fighting for a SID for 3 years!!
Hi Jane, please do speak to your parish council, you can find Burton Bradstock’s details here: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/parish-and-town-councils/parishatoz
Yes please. Barr Lane, Burton Bradstock. Its impossible to get put if our driveway daily, especially in the summer.
Thank you
Julie
Hi Julie, please do get in touch with your parish council to discuss this further. You can find Burton Bradstock’s details here in our A to Z: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/your-council/parish-and-town-councils/parishatoz
Hello,
Is there a deadline for the 20mph application?
I need to be sure there’s enough time to raise this issue at the next Parish Council meeting in early January 2023.
Kind regards,
Anna Grant
CSW co-ordinator, Buckhorn Weston
No deadline from us Anna – all we’ve done is establish what the process going forward is for towns and parishes applying for a 20mph zone – James
Hello,
I have a query as regards the application form for a 20mph speed limit: it states that the applicant will have to commission traffic surveys which would produce the traffic speed data required by Dorset Council. Our CSW group has numerous records of both numbers of cars and the various excess speeds these cars have been travelling at over a 11-month period. Should that not be taken into account as proof of an existing problem rather than asking that the applicant also commissions a separate report?
Kind regards,
Anna Grant
Hi Anna, Tony from our Road Safety team will be getting in touch with you. Regards, Claire
Trying not to be too negative but if existing 30mph rules were being enforced then the issues would not be as great. Also think a look at Weight Limit restrictions could be considered on a number of routes . For example Portesham Hill and Front street Portesham are regularly used as shortcut by HGV’s trying to get to Portland Docks in time when A35 is blocked or jammed . These matters have been raised many many times in past years by our Council Reps but no action seems to have been taken…….. 20 mph would not help this scenario in my view and enforcement without a camera would be impossible.
But they might go slower if they see a 20mph! rather than 40 or above as they race along the through coast rd, just managing to take the bend at the pub. Agree not easily enforced but many seeing 20mph will slow down and hence slow the traffic behind. Agree also with all the HGVs that pass through our village. Unfortunately with the widening of the coast road through the village it has led to increase in speed and larger vehicles are able to use. At one time if a bus and a wider vehicle came along the road they had to slow to pass carefully.