Calls for blanket 20mph speed limit across Norwich
Opposition councillors have branded the proposals "authoritarian"
Last updated 2nd Oct 2023
Senior councillors want to see speeds slashed across the city, with a possible blanket 20mph limit on all roads.
While some areas of the city are already capped at 20mph, Norwich City Council members have spoken of their desire to see the measure rolled out across much larger areas, as part of an effort to improve safety for road users and pedestrians while also tackling air pollution.
Such blanket schemes have proven to be controversial in recent months – with a similar scheme in Wales prompting protests.
Simon Jones, chairman of the Norwich Conservatives said the Norwich proposal is “authoritarian”.
He added: “It’s telling people what to do and that goes against everything I think as a Conservative.
“It may be that there is a certain part of the population that wants to get rid of cars but I don’t know if that is what this is for.
“I am in favour of 20mph zones outside schools, old people’s homes and where people are vulnerable but not everywhere.”
It comes as prime minister Rishi Sunak is set to unveil policies that would limit council powers to impose 20mph zones and levy fines from traffic cameras.
While Mr Sunak is hoping to gain support from drivers, opponents say the move would fail people who do not own a car.
Despite the Labour-led city authority’s support for the implementation, the final control over speed limits currently rests with Norfolk County Council.
Speaking at a recent council meeting, Emma Hampton, the cabinet member for climate change, said the authority has been calling for a cut in the speed limits across the city since 2020 – when it urged County Hall to look at how feasible it would be in a response to the local transport plan.
She said: “This would reduce the number of people killed and injured in the city and give people more confidence to walk and cycle.
“The proportion of the city’s roads that were covered by 20mph limits was dramatically extended by our cycling ambition programme but since the county took back complete control of highways and transport there have been very few examples of new speed limits being introduced.
“We will continue to encourage them to expand these areas and one of our officers recently highlighted to their engineers how Mile Cross could benefit from the introduction of 20mph restrictions in association with a planned active travel scheme.”
Ms Hampton’s comments came in response to a question by Liberal Democrat councillor Judith Lubbock, who said she “wholeheartedly” supported the cut.