Campaign grows for 20mph speed limit on Shifnal streets
Drivers in a Shropshire market town are being urged to kill their speed as part of a new campaign.
Shifnal Town Council has joined the “20’s plenty where people live” scheme, calling for a reduction in speed near the town’s schools and residential areas.
Mayor of Shifnal, Robert Harrop, has been the driving force behind the scheme, which was launched yesterday at the Spring Fling in Wheatfield Park.
Members of the council were out in force collecting signatures for a new petition calling for the reduction of speed, which they said had already attracted a lot of interest
Next week marks a national day of campaigning for ‘20’s plenty’, which Shifnal will take part in on Friday and will head down to Shifnal Primary School to educate children on the importance of keeping speeds low around homes and schools.
Councillor Harrop hopes everyone driving through Shifnal on May 12 will adhere to the call for a reduction and speed.
The council say that it has been proven that vehicles travelling slower create fewer harmful emissions and give a better survival rate for people if they are hit by a car.
Shifnal Town Council members, along with representatives from Rural Watch will be out along Bradford Street on Friday with banners advertising the campaign and have bumper stickers, key rings and stickers for bins to give to residents for them to show their backing for the campaign.
Mac Sandal, clerk to Shifnal Town Council, said: “There will be banners on the entrance to the town.
“We hope by going into schools we can encourage children to take the idea home with them.
“The idea is for it to be around the whole town, and to encourage people to slow down.”
The ‘20’s plenty’ scheme is for residential roads, with most A, B and arterial roads remaining at current limits.
Many local authorities are using Department of Transport guidance which encourages lower speeds to be set without physical calming.
The campaign aims to save lives, encourage walking, lower congestion and pollution, create less noise and create a better environment on residential roads.
Anyone who wants more information should contact the town council on 01952 461420.
