By ANISAH ARIF
Proposals to introduce 20mph speed limit zones by Bradford Council are a step closer.
The new zones will be added to the city centre and around a number of schools.
The proposals are recommended for approval by the Council’s Executive committee which meets on 8 January.
The proposals aim to protect vulnerable road users including children, pedestrians and cyclists by improving road safety at key locations of the district. It is also hoped the new plans will encourage more people to take up walking and cycling.
The proposed zone covers Bradford city centre within the inner ring road and extends to include areas around Bradford College and University campuses.
The proposal also includes a programme of 20 mph zones around two schools to be developed and rolled out from 2019. The zone will include streets around Farnham and St Joseph’s Primary Schools, covering over 1,500 homes with community and children’s centre’s and most of St Luke’s Hospital also covered.
A significant number of streets around these schools will be included in the zones to improve safety for these pupils on their journeys to and from school.
The report to be discussed by the committee recommends that approval is given to reduce the speed limit on the streets in the proposed zones to 20mph.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Twenty mile per hour zones are a proven way of making our roads safer and the proposed city centre zone will help make it a safer place for pedestrians and cyclists.
“By including a programme of 20mph zones around these two schools and nearby streets we can make a difference in protecting children from the dangers of speeding and promote responsible driving and road safety across the district”.
