KCC's 20mph policy review

Last month, KCC's Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee considered a report on policy towards 20mph zones.

KCC has been quite open to 20mph zones; there are more than 1,000 roads with such zones across the County, and some 22 schemes covering 286 roads have been approved in the last two years. Nonetheless, the application of Department for Transport guidance, and the matching view of Kent Police regarding effective enforcement, runs counter to the strong commitment of some campaigners to a much wider application of the zones.

The KCC report follows the national study by Atkins, which gave some support to the benefits of 20 mph zones. It also sought to address the issue (reflected in current DfT guidance) of the need for traffic calming measures to reinforce signage only schemes when speeds exceed 24 mph, and proposed use of innovative and less intrusive traffic calming methods.

KCC officers therefore proposed, and the Committee agreed, a two-stage approach, under which schemes can demonstrate community support and gain sponsorship from a County Councillor, followed by the use of traffic calming measures (such as gateway features and centre line removals) where speeds are in the 24 to 28 mph range. A number of pilot projects will be brought forward in the coming year to test out the approach.