The Mayor amended the recommendations and then agreed them.

DECISION

1.    To agree that the 20mph speed limit Experimental Order is made permanent subject to Leamouth Road and Leamouth Roundabout being omitted from the traffic order and reverting to 30mph.

2.    To agree that the roads listed in 5.10 be prioritised for additional traffic calming to reinforce the 20 mph speed limit.

3.    To note that further work will continue to review road safety throughout the borough in order to target ongoing traffic calming work to those areas most in need of improvements.

4.    To note  that further awareness and education programmes will be delivered to build awareness and ownership of the 20 mph limit.

Action by:

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (W. TUCKLEY)

(Head of Engineering (M. Cooper)

(Acting Team Leader Design (Road Safety and Cycling) (T. Rawlings)

Councillor Ayas Miah, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report reviewing the experimental 20MPH zone implemented throughout the Borough. He drew Members’ attention to the statistics contained with the report on driver behaviour since the zone had been introduced and the survey looking at levels of support for the pilot.

Whilst the data was not conclusive it was considered that analysis showed the scheme had improved road safety and so it was worth making it permanent. However, there were a few specific roads where it was proposed the speed limit be returned to 30 MPH and those were listed in the report.

Councillor Andrew Wood, Ward Councillor for Canary Wharf, addressed the meeting. Whilst he supported the principle of encouraging 20MPH roads, he considered that there were a number of locations, such as Manchester Road on the Isle of Dogs, where the lower speed limit was causing dangerous situations such as undertaking and increased collisions. He suggested that the data presented was not robust enough to take a decision to make the scheme permanent.

The Cabinet then moved to discuss the report. In particular they looked at:

·         The statistics, especially around accidents involving personal injury/fatalities.

·         The overall decrease in speeds by 1.4MPH, in line with targets.

·         How quickly road calming measures could be brought in to tackle problem areas.

·         Levels of public support for the speed reductions.

The was strong support expressed for the proposals and Members also proposed that Prestons Road, Cotton Street and West India Dock Road should be retained within the 20MPH zone but that the design review should be expedited to tackle any issues on those roads. Prestons Roundabout should also, therefore, be retained within the 20MPH zone.

The Mayor amended the recommendations as set out above and then agreed them emphasising that it was important that relevant traffic calming measures be brought in on the above roads as soon as possible.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree that the 20mph speed limit Experimental Order is made permanent subject to Leamouth Road and Leamouth Roundabout being omitted from the traffic order and reverting to 30mph.

2.    To agree that the roads listed in 5.10 be prioritised for additional traffic calming to reinforce the 20 mph speed limit.

3.    To note that further work will continue to review road safety throughout the borough in order to target ongoing traffic calming work to those areas most in need of improvements.

4.    To note that further awareness and education programmes will be delivered to build awareness and ownership of the 20 mph limit.