20mph limit plan rejected by Holyrood committee
A Holyrood committee has refused to support the proposed bill to introdue a general 20mph speed limit on urban roads in Scotland.
By a majority of eight to three, the Rural Economy & Connectivity Committee agreed not to recommend approval of the Restricted Roads (20mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill, introduced by Green MSP Mark Ruskell. John Finnie (Green) and Labour members John Mason and Colin Smyth dissented.
The bill aims to improve road safety by reducing the default speed limit on restricted roads, generally residential streets and minor roads in both rural and urban areas, from 30mph to 20mph. However the committee concluded that whilst it supported the aims of seeking to widen the implementation of 20mph zones, the "one size fits all" approach proposed in the bill was not appropriate.
Evidence was provided that the estimated cost of implementation did not fully consider all requirements and would vary across different local authorities, in particular as respects the costs of assessments on roads which would be affected; the legal cost of local authorities wishing to retain roads as 20mph zones; and the unspecified number of restricted roads that would be subject to the bill’s proposals and the cost incurred in trying to establish the number.
It was also reported that the cost of an awareness campaign after the implementation of the zones would be significantly higher than what was estimated within the bill.
There was conflicting evidence as to the implementation time of the bill. While it put forward an estimated 18-month implementation period, one local authority suggested that due to constrained resources a period of 10 years might be needed if no additional funds were provided.
Committee convener Edward Mountain MSP commented: "The committee supports the road safety objectives of the bill. However, after considering extensive evidence, the committee has concluded that the introduction of 20mph speed limits on all restricted roads in Scotland in a 'one size fits all' approach is not the most effective way of achieving those objectives.
"The committee is of the view that local authorities should have the flexibility to decide where new 20mph zones would be most effective and appropriate for their areas."
He added: "However, the committee members believe that if more 20mph zones are to be introduced in Scotland, it must be made easier for local authorities to do so. This could include simplifying the legal process of changing a 30mph zone to a 20mph zone, which at present is cumbersome and resource-intensive."
Mr Ruskell accused the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives of putting "the motoring lobby ahead of child safety".
Describing the present use of 20mph speed limits as a "postcode lottery", he added: "The report objects to the proposal on the grounds that I'm calling for a blanket approach, but all default speed limits are 'blanket', including the current 30mph limit.
"My Bill allows councils to choose which roads they wish to retain as 30mph while seeing residential areas automatically drop to a safer limit of 20mph."