Hertfordshire Lib Dems have welcomed the announcement last week by the
Coalition Government of measures to reduce the bureaucracy for councils
wanting to implement 20mph schemes.

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker has said that if councils and
local communities want to put in place 20 mph schemes on residential
roads or use common-sense measures such as variable speed limits outside
schools, then they should be able to do so without spending time and
money satisfying unnecessary Whitehall diktats.

The key changes in the process:

– Many of the current restrictions and obstacles to rolling out 20mph
zones are being removed so that they can be implemented on residential roads
with cheaper and fewer signs.
– Importantly councils will no longer require approval from Government
to introduce 20 mph zones.

In Hertfordshire Liberal Democrat councillors have actively campaigned
for 20mph zones and have asked the county council to support them and promise
funding for such schemes.

Lib Dem Highways Opposition Spokesperson Cllr Stephen
Giles-Medhurst has led the calls locally and hassuccessfully got two such schemes introduced in his own area.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst said: “Given the action by the Lib Dems in
the Coalition government, I hope the county council will now review its
current very restrictive policy on this and move quickly to
implement 20mph zones where residents want them.

“This is an important step forward in removing some of the red tape and
costs that make putting in 20 mph zones such an onerous task.

“20 mph zones are one of the key issues in making residential roads safer
for all their users, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.”