Hertfordshire official opposition Liberal Democrat group has hit out over the failure of the Conservative run council to support the introduction of 20mph limits where residents want them.

Criticising the recently agreed Speed Management Strategy Lib Democrat Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst said, “Whilst the new Strategy document has its good points, it completely fails to support the need for funding for 20 mph limits. Government policies now promote such limits as the way of reducing road accidents and deaths, yet in Hertfordshire we are left to try to find funding out of a tiny pot of money given to each County council, a paltry £10,000 for local projects. The Conservatives say they support 20mph limits but when it comes to committing county resources to such schemes they repeatedly refuse to do so.

“Hertfordshire County Council needs to be radical and introduce 20mph speed limits in and around schools and highly residential areas. This has been successfully done elsewhere, as in Portsmouth where following the drop in road speed, the number of accidents were dramatically reduced,” said Cllr Giles-Medhurst

“We are not advocating 20mph limits everywhere, but where they are applicable in dense residential areas and where we need to improve safety for the most vulnerable like near schools.”

ENDS

Editors notes:

Contact:

Stephen Giles-Medhurst 07702 975502

Susan Gaszczak 0789 9001598

Background information:

1. The Liberal Democrats proposed to have a £1million in this year’s county council for 20mph limits funding in part from reducing the press and publicity of over £3m. This was voted down by the Conservatives.

2. 20mph limits do not require hard road surface features just signage and schemes in other parts of county have shown a high degree of compliance.