"Twenty's Plenty!" say Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats

16 Liberal Democrat County Councillors have all signed a petition to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee requesting a review of Twenty mph Speed Limits policy to be carried out. The Committee has agreed this should be done as part of a wider review of Speed Policy generally and the county's Highways and Transport Panel will be looking at the wider issues first. The Committee will then consider if the policies and procedures for implementing 20mph speed limits in Hertfordshire need simplifying or modifying.

It is existing Liberal Democrat policy to implement 20mph limits in areas where the local community has requested them.

County Councillor Nick Hollinghurst (Tring & the Villages) said "People regularly raise the issue of speeding cars with me. Now we have a chance for Herts County Council to address this issue and limit speeds in areas where vehicle speeds of 30 mph are causing hazards to other road users and pedestrians.

I have asked that the Tring and Berkhamsted Urban Transport Plan, which is currently out for consultation, could incorporate a 20 mph zone through Tring High Street from the Rodin Hood to Miswell Lane, down Frogmore Street to the top of the Dundale Road Hill and down Akeman Street as far as the Museum.

This will give a calmer atmosphere to the shopping areas along the High Street and will give people more confidence in crossing the road to use shops and facilities. Experience elsewhere shows that this tends to increase the attractiveness of an area for shoppers and trade goes up as a result. And with Frognore Street being a narrow busy street with entrances to a well-used car park, several popular shops and cafés, a school and a road junction there is also a clear safety benefit here."

He added, "I have also mentioned this to Cllrs Penny Hearn and John Allan who, together with the Town Clerk, are currently looking to draw up a formal Town Plan. A High Street 20 mph Zone should be a major component of that plan."

Leader of the Opposition, County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst (Central Watford and Oxhey) added "Road safety is a concern for many local people. The Liberal Democrat group wants to see 20mph limits implemented in areas where it will improve safety and reflect the views of local people"