IMPOSING 20mph zones across York has had little effect on driving speeds – with speeds actually increasing in some streets.

A Freedom of Information request made by the Liberal Democrats has found that before and after speed figures for ten roads in the west of the city largely remain unchanged.

However, in Alness Drive, in Woodthorpe, and Almsford Road and Wheatlands Grove, in Acomb, speeds have increased since the new limits were imposed.

The streets where speeds have risen

The Liberal Democrats said the figures were evidence the Labour-run council had wasted about £600,000 on the project.

However, Labour has said the project will come in within the £500,000 budget and is a positive change to the the neighbourhoods involved.

Sheena Jackson, who is seeking election to City of York Council with the Liberal Democrats, said: “While I support having lower speed limits outside schools and in shopping areas where risks are higher, this project has proved to be a waste of taxpayer’s money.

“Many residents viewed with incredulity the arrival of council workmen to erect 20 mph signs at the entrance to short cul de sacs where it was impossible for any vehicle to accelerate to that speed. “As we said at the time the money should have been invested on streets with a known poor accident record.”

York Press:

Cllr Andrew Waller, Sue Hunter and Sheena Jackson at the time a sign was erected on a short cul de sac in Ridgeway

The 20mph policy started in residential areas in the west of the city in 2013 before being rolled out in the north and east last year.

It was included in the 2011 Labour manifesto for York but has faced criticism since its inception and in 2013 it was revealed that only seven residents out of 13,000 surveyed in a public consultation had voiced support for the policy.

The figures released under FOI show the overall mean speed was 20 mph recorded across the roads surveyed before the 20mph zone was implemented and it is now 19.32 mph overall.

In Alness Drive average speeds for people driving south rose from 25.2mph to 26.5mph before and after the speed limit change, in Almsford Drive speeds for people driving east have risen from 17.8mph to 21.3mph and in Wheatlands Grove, speeds going south have risen from 18mph to 20.6mph.

There have been 17 accidents on roads with a 20 mph limit between March 2014 and December 2014. Two of the accidents were serious.

York Press: Councillor David Levene

Cllr David Levene, pictured above, cabinet member for transport, said evidence shows change to speed limits can take a while to “bed in” but can have a big impact on the frequency of crashes.

He said: “The Liberal Democrats nationally and in other parts of the country support 20mph limits but in York they say the opposite.

“York Labour will always follow through on our promises, as we did when we implemented 20mph limits after including it in our 2011 manifesto.”