20mph speed limits could be rolled out to more Bristol roads

Bristol neighbourhoods will be asked which roads they would like to see have 20mph speed limits. Ahead of the local elections last May, the Greens promised to “make all roads in Bristol where possible a maximum of 20mph”.

Next spring, all the area committees across Bristol will be asked to identify the roads they would like to see be made 20mph. Councillors were updated on the issue during a meeting of the member forum on Tuesday.

Green Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport policy committee, said: “The next round of area committee meetings is roughly in May. I’ll be working to make sure that we make those meetings a success in the background before then. We’ll definitely make sure that 20mph is on the agenda, so that we’re basing our decisions on local intelligence.”

Nine area committees now cover the city, giving local neighbourhoods more say over issues such as traffic, parks and street bins. There are many roads across Bristol affected by speeding cars, such as Canford Lane in Westbury-on-Trym.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Caroline Gooch, representing Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze, said: “Canford Lane is very rapidly moving. The crossing campaign, led by the Liberal Democrats, is now being delivered and this will help, but we would still like to reduce the speed limit to 20mph on that road.”

Reducing speed limits on roads often proves controversial, with campaigners saying driving slower reduces the chance of crashes and casualties, as well as noise and air pollution. Meanwhile, some driving organisations dispute this, and plans to make many roads in Wales 20mph faced heavy opposition due to their effect on making journey times longer.