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Trials for 20mph speed limits outside East Lancashire schools

10:22am Tuesday 20th September 2011 in Blacko Photograph of the Author By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

TRIALS Plans for 20mph speed limits outside East Lancashire schools get go-ahead TRIALS Plans for 20mph speed limits outside East Lancashire schools get go-ahead

TRIALS to cut drivers’ speed outside five East Lancashire schools have been given the go-ahead.

Vehicles will be restricted to just 20mph outside the pilot schools at peak times as part of a countywide bid to slow down motorists.

The five schools are:

  • Burnley: Sir John Thursby Community College
  • Hyndburn: Altham Primary
  • Pendle: Blacko Primary
  • Ribble Valley: Gisburn Primary
  • Rossendale: Stubbins Primary

Abbey Village Primary, near Chorley, is also part of the trial.

Jo Greenwood, the county council’s environment director, said the signs would concide with the start and end of the school day.

She said: “Discussions with the Department for Transport regarding time variable 20mph speed limits at schools, located outside the main residential areas, have now reached a conclusion.

“Full agreement in principle has now been reached as to how this can be achieved in Lancashire.”

Under the same package six further areas have been selected for the county’s ‘Healthy Streets' initiative.

This programme will give extra assistance to smooth over the arrival of 20mph zones, ironing out potential conflicts between motorists and residents.

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Part of Great Harwood, north Clitheroe, central Colne, south west Burnley, Euxton and Helmshore are the identified districts for the scheme.

The plans were reviewed and approved by County Councillor Tim Ashton, highways cabinet member, subject to them being ‘called-in’ by the scrutiny committee.

Comments(9)

ladysal says...
10:41am Tue 20 Sep 11

I just hope that they enforce them! I notice that one has gone up outside St Anne's in Blackburn town centre. Feilden Street used to be a relatively easy road to get across. Now that it is the only route into that part of town its a nightmare. Judging by this morning, car drivers are ignoring the 20 MPH speed limits and there is no safe place to cross near the school.
I hope it doesn't end up being the usual routine of nothing getting done until some dies / is seriously injured.

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HelmshoreBoy says...
11:27am Tue 20 Sep 11

A 20mph speed limit outside schools is a good idea in principle, but enforcement is practically impossible. Police resources are already stretched to the maximum and there are only so many civvy speed enforcement officers. (Thank goodness!)

Even should there be any serious accidents, and hopefully there won't, little would be done.

I live in close proximity to three primary schools and a comprehensive and we see a SEO van every now and then. Police - never!

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211212 says...
12:04pm Tue 20 Sep 11

I think it is a bit dangerous speeding up the Blackburn traffic flow to 20mph either outside schools or in the town centre the normal 5mph is fast enough.

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maxcollie says...
1:23pm Tue 20 Sep 11

will someone please inform the parents as they do not seem to know what a speed limit is?

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maxcollie says...
1:26pm Tue 20 Sep 11

What happened to the county council ban on pavement parking? Nothing seems to have happened from then.

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ste.g says...
6:38pm Tue 20 Sep 11

correct me if i am wrong but isnt the legal minimum speed limit 30mph?if so no one could be prosecuted for ignoring the 20mph signs.and if that is the case why spend all that money putting signs up that cant be enforced?
just a thought...

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Pan-cake says...
7:42am Wed 21 Sep 11

It's very good of Cllr Ashton to impose 20mph limits across a large area of Great Harwood without any consultation with the residents. Localism in action? Over 60 new road signs littering our streets and for what? Less than 5 largely non injury accidents over the past 5 years. It is doubtful the £9 million being spent on such blanket schemes will have any measurable benefit. Of course in these straightend times of local authority job losses, many road engineers will be breathing a sigh of relief that this will deflect the incoming P45.

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Black Car Guy. says...
12:10pm Wed 21 Sep 11

Should it not be common sense to drive slow outside a school?

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the kebabster says...
8:16am Fri 23 Sep 11

ste.g I believe you are correct, the minimum limit is 30mph which is also the point car speedo's and speed cameras are calibrated at. In an accident though, if speed was a factor, that would (and should) be taken into account in any charges pressed but would be difficult to prove I think.
I have to say that I've watched traffic outside schools, arriving and leaving, and I was convinced an accident was going to happen. People drove like they were possessed and I was genuinely concerned, speed wasnt really a factor it was the standard of driving that bothered me. Everyone should try this sometime!

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