Health benefits of 20mph speed limit revealed

The conference, held in Shrewsbury on Saturday, called for a 'default' speed limit for the country's streets and heard from a range of speakers including Rod King the national founder of the 20s Plenty campaign.

Those at the meeting included some county and town and parish councillors.

Julian Dean, a Shrewsbury councillor, said there had been a problem in New Street for a considerable time.

"We are looking into how we can solve the problem. If we had a default 20mph limit it would not be necessary to fight for small pockets of speed limits or traffic calming."

He said the conference had been enlightening.

"My gut feeling was that we need this 20mph limit in residential areas but I had not thought about the wider benefits. It has been interesting to hear that parents won't let their children play outside because the roads are too dangerous and that people will not walk or cycle because of the traffic."

Emma Bullard from the Green Party in Shrewsbury and a cycle expert, said she had seen for herself the benefits of areas that have default 20mph limits.

"It has been brought in in Bristol and the transformation has been incredible. It is can work in Bristol it can work in Shropshire," she said.

The national 20’s Plenty For Us campaign, which has branches in Church Stretton, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shifnal and Shrewsbury says a reduction in speed limits from 30mph to 20mph sharply increases the chances of a pedestrian or cyclist surviving an accident and also has environmental and public health benefits.

Conference organiser John Whitelegg said: “There is robust scientific evidence that 20mph is a highly effective public health intervention, and increases the number of people walking and cycling which in turn reduces car use, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality.

“Many of us have argued for five years or more for a Shropshire-wide 20mph limit."

"Warrington Borough Council reports a 25 per cent decline in collisions as a result of its 20mph policy and the Scottish Parliament is considering new legislation to make 20mph general throughout Scotland on residential roads."

Mr King said: "The World Health Organisation has recognised that there is a world epidemic of obesity. Bringing down the speed limit would encourage more pedestrians and cyclists to use our roads and pavements, allow children to play outside and help deal with our health issues.

"The money it would cost to bring in the limit is nothing compared to our spend on accidents and the wider cost to the health service."