Plans to lower speed limits to improve road safety

A local authority has revealed plans to introduce lower speed limits in five areas in a bid to improve road safety.

Residents are being asked for their views on proposals to introduce a mixture of 20mph and 30mph limits in the Wokingham borough, which the council says represent the first phase of a longer term Safer Streets programme.

The council said it aims to proactively introduce safer speed limits, particularly in places where pedestrians, cyclists and children may be at risk.

Wokingham town centre and Norreys Avenue, Twyford, Finchampstead village, Silverdale Road, Earley and Hare Hatch are the first areas under consideration.

After the adoption of a new speed limit policy in January this year, the council asked residents to share where they think limits should be lowered.

The two-month consultation generated 1,911 suggestions from 841 participants, alongside submissions from town and parish councils.

Councillor Adrian Betteridge, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: "Tragically, every year on roads in Wokingham Borough, road traffic collisions result in death and serious injury.

"The evidence is clear that reducing speeds in towns, villages, residential estates and on rural minor roads will improve safety.

"We want our roads to be safe for everyone and lower speed limits will play an important part in achieving that."

He said local people identified speeding as a "major concern" in the type of areas the council is focusing on.

The first five proposed locations have been chosen to include a town centre, village centres, residential areas and rural roads, which will "enable the programme's impact to be monitored in different settings and inform future phases and proposals", the authority added.

Residents can share their views until midnight on 9 November.