Andy D'Agorne

Residents in a group of streets in Fishergate are to get the chance to be the first of a new kind of 20mph area - a policy which the Green Party hopes could apply to most residential areas in York, following the example being set by Portsmouth. A letter has been delivered to every household in Grange Garth, Grange St, Rosedale St, Levisham St, Farndale St, Hartoft St and Lastingham Terrace, asking if they would support the idea of the area being signed as 20mph max, but without the humps that have been so unpopular with many motorists.

Response has been generally good, and we have now collected over 100 signatures on a petition that will be presented to full council on April 10th 2008. Coincidentally 20mph as a standard for residential streets is one of 6 key themes nationally for the Green party local election platform.

             Cllr Andy D'Agorne said: "The idea is to create a culture of low speeds, well below 20mph. With lower speeds more people are happy to walk, cycle, let their children play on terraced streets with their neighbours children etc. Pets and children are safer and the street can become more of a community, cutting the fear of crime and 'stranger danger'. Its more about the message it sends to people than just a speed limit."

The Portsmouth project is expected to cover the whole of the city by March 2008, funded out of their Local Transport Plan as a key measure to improve road safety and promote alternatives such as walking and cycling. The limit will apply to all residential areas away from major roads, and is being achieved through education campaigns and signing without humps by being applied to roads where average speeds are shown to be less than 24mph. Cllr Alex Bentley Executive Member for Environment and Transportation in Portsmouth has said "On most residential roads its not safe or appropriate to drive at more than 20mph.. what we want to do is target the small number of drivers who drive at inappropriate speeds without regard for safety or respect for anyone else." See www.portsmouth.gov.uk/ Living section - getting around or just click on http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/living/8403.html or look at info about the '20's plenty' and slower speeds initiative: http://www.slower-speeds.org.uk/content/view/101/55/