An outer London council is poised to introduce borough-wide 20mph limits after cabinet members green lit proposals last night.
With several London boroughs now in support of 20mph zones, councillors in Croydon have agreed to put plans for lower local limits on residential roads out to public consultation.
The local authority said reduced speed limits would lessen the risk of accidents, cut congestion and pollution levels, encourage residents to travel by different modes of transport and discourage speeding on residential streets.
The 889 accidents recorded in Croydon over 2013 are thought to have cost the taxpayer around £60m, with 1092 local casualties charted over this period.
The £1.5m cost of introducing 20mph limits over the next three years would be covered through bids for funding from Transport for London’s Local Implementation Plan (LIP) process, which has already provided funds to cover the scheme’s first stage.
Residents will now be consulted on the plans, with those in the borough’s north quizzed first. Neighbouring local authorities will also be approached to comment on any proposed 20mph limit on roads straddling borough boundaries.
London boroughs including Islington and Camden have already launched 20mph limits on local roads, with authorities such as Hackney also committed to the introduction of lower speeds.
The capital’s mayor Boris Johnson has also pledged to trial 20mph speed limits in eight locations across London over an 18-month period.
Speaking before last night’s meeting, Cllr Kathy Bee, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: ‘Safer roads mean safer residents, and we’re exploring 20mph limits so our borough is a better place to live and work.
‘However, we’ll only do this if our residents want it to happen. This change could bring a huge improvement to the lives of thousands of our residents plagued by speeding drivers, but getting it right means consulting properly.
‘We plan to assess demand one area at a time over the next three years, starting with residents in the north who already tell us speeding is a problem there.’
