MEP Letter to Kent Police 4th Nov 2010

Dear Mr Learmonth,
>
> I understand from local campaigners that Kent Police will not
> support the introduction of 20mph speed limits in residential areas
> around schools without traffic calming measures being in place. The
> lack of support for this policy is a key reason cited by Kent County
> Council for not reducing speed limits despite overwhelming public
> support.
>
> This position seems contrary to the guidance from the Department of
> Transport which suggests that the use of 20mph zones without traffic
> calming is appropriate where average speeds are 24mph or less and
> that there are benefits from this. The benefits to both road safety
> and perceived safety are well documented.
>
> Within my constituency I have two major cities, Portsmouth and
> Oxford, which have opted for a default of 20mph on all their
> residential streets without the use of additional traffic calming.
> They seem to have overcome concerns about enforcement and therefore
> I urge you to reconsider your stance on this issue.
>
> Yours sincerely
>
> Keith Taylor