Plans to extend the 20mph speed limit in Hammersmith and Fulham look set to be given the go-ahead following public feedback.
All residential side roads in the borough will see its limit set at 20mph, as will sections of main roads in Hammersmith, Fulham and Shepherd’s Bush town centres
It follows a public consultation on the issue held last year in which 5,287 people responded . Of those 45% (2,367) said they were in favour of the 20mph on all roads except for the A4 and A40 Transport for London (TfL) roads.
A further 26% (1,351) were in favour except on some main roads, while 29% (1,493) said they were opposed to any new speed controls.
Of those responding some 62% of motorists said they supported extending the speed limits.
The new measures are set to be agreed at a council cabinet meeting being held on March 7.
“The clear majority of residents, in one of our biggest-ever consultations, said they support extending 20mph speed limits to reduce injuries and deaths on our streets and make our neighbourhoods more pleasant for everyone,” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F’s cabinet member for environment, transport and residents’ services.
“We are listening to the overwhelming 71% of residents who wanted extended 20mph zones while acting on the suggestions for main roads where some residents wanted 30mph limits retained on main roads outside town centres.
“We are planning 20mph speed limits on the residential side roads in the borough that don’t already have them and a 20mph limit on sections of main roads in our three, busy town centres, where accidents with pedestrians and cyclists are frequent.”
'Lives will be saved'
The extended limits follow similar initiatives in other London boroughs and by the Mayor of London and TfL on its roads in town centres, and will be funded by TfL.
Roads retaining the current 30mph limit include:
- Scrubs Lane
- Wood Lane between North Pole Road and Shepherd's Bush town centre
- Uxbridge Road from town centre to Old Oak Road
- Goldhawk Road between Chiswick High Road and Shepherds Bush town centre
- Fulham Palace Road between Fulham Road and Hammersmith town centre border
- Fulham High Street (A219)
- Putney Bridge / Putney Bridge approach
- New Kings Road
- Wandsworth Bridge / Wandsworth Bridge Road
- Hammersmith Road between Hammersmith town centre and border with Kensington and Chelsea
- Fulham Road between junction with Fulham Palace Road and border with Kensington and Chelsea (excluding a small section of road within Fulham town centre), and
- Dawes Road between junction with Lillie Road and Fulham town centre
Cllr Harcourt continued: “Collisions at lower speeds are much less likely to cause deaths or serious injuries. And lower speeds are also good for reducing traffic congestion by cutting delays caused by accidents and by encouraging more people to leave the car at home, because walking or cycling become safer, more pleasant options.”
Only TfL has the power to install speed cameras, with enforcement of the new speed limit carried out by Metropolitan Police. Revenue from any speeding fines will not go to the council.
