WEYBRIDGE
Home | Travel & Roads | 20 mph Zone
16 DECEMBER 2009 New Government guidelines for 20mph limits
The Dept for Transport has issued a consultation letter to local authorities, setting out proposed new guidelines for setting 20mph limits
in residential areas.Weybridge 20mph Zone History
Weybridge North residents and councillors - in particular Graham Winton - pressed for a 20mph Zone for a number of years.
A report was presented to the Surrey County Council Local Committee (Elmbridge) in March 2005 seeking approval to advertise the making of a 20mph zone for the Weybridge Area.
SCC sought the views of Surrey Police, as they are responsible for the enforcement of speed limits. In the case of any objection to the scheme by Surrey Police, the matter would be referred back to the Local Committee.
In 2005 the 20mph zone was advertised and three letters of objection were received, including the one from Surrey Police (see below, centre panel).
As a result it is was proposed to make some changes to the final zone area.
The SCC officer report to the committee concluded: "Having carefully reassessed the extent of the 20 mph zone it is now proposed that the Weybridge 20mph zone be based on the area that was traffic calmed in 2001, but extended to include Wey Road and Round Oak Road."
SCC Local Committee (Elmbridge) 24 Jan 2006 agreed the revised scheme. The plan (left) indicates the agreed area of the 20mph zone.
In March 2009 Surrey finally started to put up the essential signage needed to bring the restriction into force.
Who to contact in Surrey County Council
North Weybridge 20mph Zone: need to extend it?
Residents and councillors pressed for a 20mph Zone in Weybridge North for a number of years. And it took another few years after Surrey County Council passed the statutory orders, before the signs were put up. But this really is something which can help make our community safer.
Reaction from residents
While most local residents welcome the new 20mph zone, many cannot understand why it does not cover the area around Grotto Road and Monument Road. Some people thought the signs were installed facing the wrong way. The limited scope of the 20mph zone seems to encourage people to speed up as they approach St James School.
Area of N Weybridge 20mph Zone
Why is the area of the zone so limited? It is very difficult to find a logical reason (see the reply to our question to SCC). 20mph zones need to be self-enforcing, hence there’s a requirement for traffic calming. Given the heavy traffic calming along Monument Road, it does seem odd that it is not in the 20mph zone.
Councillor Miles Macleod is a strong supporter of 20mph limits outside schools and in residential roads. He believes that the 20mph zone should be bigger, covering Grotto Road, Old Palace Road, Monument Road and surrounding roads, which is what many residents expected. He is pursuing that with Surrey County Council. Of course we need to be realistic about the timescale to get additional changes, given Surrey's history of delays, but it is important to persist. And we will persist until something happens. We will keep you informed on progress.
If you have thoughts on this, please do make a comment. We will be pleased to hear from you.
