I AM at a loss to understand why some correspondents only want 20mph outside schools.

The only beneficiaries would be those children who are ferried there each day in parents’ cars, as they make a woefully short walk to the school gates.

Wider scale 20mph limits would surely encourage more parents to let their offspring walk or cycle all the way from home.

Many respondents to this topic will doubtless welcome a 20mph limit on their own street, but seem reluctant for it to be imposed elsewhere.

Yet there will only be respect for the lower limit, if it is applied universally to all local streets.

So far as signing cul de sacs are concerned, one wonders whether the DfT signage regulations which caused such trouble elsewhere in York, are responsible for requiring local authorities to install signs in this situation.

If these signs were excluded, would loophole lawyers have another field day in the event of a pedestrian or cyclist fatality?

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York

 

COUNCILLOR Chris Steward, in his letter (The Press, July 15) responding to critics of Councillor Ian Gillies’ expressed wish to “review” the 20mph zones, complains that “national campaigners and paid lobbyists” have been “more vocal” in support of the zones than “York residents”, whom he assumes will support the traffic policies of his administration.

This is unworthy of the leader of a city council.

It’s well known that there is a national organisation called Twenty’s Plenty for Us, which campaigns openly for a lower speed limit in towns and cities across the UK and I think has active supporters here in York.

“Paid lobbyists”, on the other hand, refers to people hired to promote causes they don’t necessarily believe in and in which their interest is purely commercial.

Yet all the different views expressed on this subject in The Press in response to Cllr Gillies’ comments seem to come from genuine residents of York and surrounding areas.

I might think that those who write in to say that if only the council would stop all this business of “traffic calming” and 20mph zones, the traffic would flow once again as it did in the past when there were far fewer cars on the road are deluded, but I don’t doubt their sincerity.

Chris Walker-Lyne, Millfield Road, York

 

I FEEL honoured that the leader of the council picked my recent letter out of all those which raised concerns regarding lifting of 20mph speed limits to clarify there will be no general roll back of the 20mph of his administration (Letters, July 15).

I hope that he agrees that the investigation by his deputy into the removal of 20mph signs together with the executive member for transport being quoted with “I would take them all down” painted the picture of a general common understanding within the coalition administration for a blanket roll back.

I am also glad to see that Councillor Chris Steward and Councillor Ian Gilles both see proper enforcement of speed limits as a top priority.

I am grateful for the clarifications and as his local ward councillor I am looking forward to discussing the appropriate speed limits in our neighbourhoods.

Lars Kramm, Green councillor for Micklegate Ward, Leven Road, York