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Limit of 10mph 'to reclaim streets for families'

Helen William
Saturday 10 November 2001 01:00 GMT
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Speed limits could drop to 10mph on some streets as part of efforts to transform them into people-friendly zones.

Speed limits could drop to 10mph on some streets as part of efforts to transform them into people-friendly zones.

Traffic-calming measures, earmarked for 14 government-funded pilot schemes called home zones, aim to reclaim the streets for pedestrians and bolster community spirit.

Speed restrictions, road markings and parking bays discourage motorists from speeding on designated roads, which are then landscaped with benches and trees. Paths, grass and play areas may be added.

Lambeth council in south London hopes a home zone in Streatham will be in place by next year. A spokesman said: "We are looking at road closures and possibly raising the carriageway so that roads are more geared to pedestrian use. A 10mph speed limit is something we are not actively looking at but it is something we will not rule out." At present local authorities have the power to impose 20mph limits.

In April, the Government announced a £30m fund to set up 100 home zones. The scheme is already running at the Northmoor estate in Longsight, Manchester, and at Morice Town, Plymouth, with praise from Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Local Government.

Ben Plowden of the Living Streets campaign, which supports the scheme, said home zones were intended to give pedestrians priority, without banning cars. He said: "The aim is to design roads which are difficult to speed down. In Northmoor, speeds have been reduced from 17mph to 10mph.

"It is about creating a new atmosphere so that children can play on the streets and neighbours feel able to stay outside their houses and can talk."

Home zones originated nearly 20 years ago in the Netherlands where there are now 6,000.

An area of Ealing, west London, has also been selected for the pilot scheme, as have parts of Edinburgh, Dundee, Belfast and Leeds.

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