No borough-wide 20mph proposal for Kirklees, councillors rule as they criticise lack of debate

Opposition councillors were criticised for calling for a review of 20mph zones – but not attending a debate on whether to introduce it.

Kirklees Cabinet yesterday agreed that a borough-wide approach to 20mph zones or speed limits would not work.

Instead they’ve backed a case-by-case policy.

They’ve said that 20mph zones or speed limits should only be introduced in areas that do not need traffic calming measures or enforcement, among other restrictions.

They’ve also said reduced speed limit zones should not be funded through mainstream highway budgets. But Cabinet members criticised their opposition counterparts for their absence at yesterday’s meeting.

Clr Cathy Scott, joint Cabinet member for Place, said: “This is a direct response to a motion at Council requesting a feasibility study.

“Cabinet have to take such a decision... none of the groups are here today to listen to this report being debated.”

Clr David Sheard criticised a “ridiculous” motion that has been submitted for today’s Full Council on the same issue by Kirklees Conservative Party members.

“If they’ve looked at this Cabinet report it would be unlikely the resolution would have been sent to Full Council,” Clr Sheard said. “It makes no sense if they’ve read the report.”

The Examiner reported last week that the police have said they do not have sufficient staff to manage 20mph speed limits or zones.

All of the political parties in Kirklees were involved in the consultation and road safety organisations were consulted. But Cabinet concluded that while there is general support for lower speed limits, they need to be in areas that are “credible and self enforcing”.

Today’s motion, by Clrs Robert Light, David Hall and Andrew Palfreeman calls on the council to be “dismayed at the progress which has been made towards the implementation of a policy for 20mph zones”.

It requests the Cabinet agree before March 2014 a Kirklees Policy for the implementation of 20mph zones outside schools and within mainly residential areas.

The motion will be debated at today’s 5pm meeting, if time permits.