Councillors to discuss extending 20mph zones in Oswestry

Currently, there are restrictions outside schools and the town centre.

However, the town council wants to extend this to other areas where people live and shop. After members reiterated their support at a meeting in October, town clerk Arren Roberts wrote to Shropshire Council asking if the restrictions could be implemented.

“To date, Shropshire Council has implemented some zones outside schools and in the town centre,” said Mr Roberts.

“This is leading to an inconsistent approach which, if continued, will require many costly road signs and vehicles constantly accelerating and decelerating between speed limits. Children need to be safe on their whole route to and from school, not just outside of the school gate.

“Progress on implementing wide-area 20mph zones was affected by the ‘plan for drivers’ implemented by the last Prime Minister. However, the Future Oswestry Group were informed that this policy guidance no longer applies and 20mph zones in Oswestry are being considered.”

In response, Andy Wilde, assistant director for infrastructure at Shropshire Council said: “In Shropshire, the approach to implementing 20mph speed restrictions is based upon supporting the delivery of appropriate and achievable traffic management interventions in locations where the potential benefits are greatest.

“This approach reflects the current Department for Transport guidance on setting local speed limits. Currently, in Shropshire, 20mph restrictions are typically only considered in the following locations: outside schools or where there are high numbers of vulnerable road users; on urban residential streets in specific cases (where wide community support can be demonstrated, where there is evidence that streets are being used by people on foot and on bicycles and where the characteristics of the street are suitable); and on town centre streets/pedestrian dominated areas.

“The benefits that reduced vehicle speeds can have on the severity of road traffic collisions are not disputed. When a speed restriction scheme is introduced, it is important that a range of facts are considered, for example, the extent to which current vehicle speeds on a given street are likely to be reduced and the impact of any supporting infrastructure that may be required.

“This approach has been adopted for the delivery of the county-wide programme introducing 20mph speed restrictions outside schools, which was approved by Shropshire Council in 2020.”

Oswestry Town Council will consider Shropshire Council’s response at its meeting this Wednesday (January 15).