Council agrees speed can be cut to 30mph (From Wharfedale Observer)

Council agrees speed can be cut to 30mph

11:00am Thursday 11th March 2010

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A battle to lower the speed limit on two Bramhope Streets has finally come to an end after Leeds City Council agreed to the scheme.

A deadlock over the 60mph limits on Moorland Road and Occupation Lane was finally broken earlier this year after a local councillor offered to finance the bulk of the cost of imposing restrictions.

And at a council meeting in Leeds yesterday the 30mph limit was finally agreed.

Residents have fought for more than five years to get the speed limit on Moorland Road and Occupation Lane lowered from 60mph to 30mph amid warnings that children’s lives were being put at risk.

Their battle, which they have fought alongside the area’s MP, Greg Mulholland, came to an end after Adel and Wharfedale councillor Barry Anderson came up with his own unusual solution to the deadlock.

He offered to use his personal community fund allocation to pay for a scheme which will see the speed limit reduced on Moorland Road. And after residents addressed a meeting of the full city council in Leeds earlier this year it was agreed that the authority would try to find the remaining money to extend the reductions to both roads.

Now the council has officially approved the scheme.

Local people have faced an on-going problem where they have warned of the dangers to pedestrians – and especially children – using the road.

But last year they were told that the limit would not be reduced because of the cost involved and because there was no evidence that traffic often travelled at more than 30mph, despite the 60mph limit. The council also argued that no accidents involving injury had been recorded.

Coun Anderson broke the deadlock when he suggested paying for restrictions up to the end of the houses on Moorland Road at a cost of about £5,800. The city council then agreed to try to find the extra £600 or so to ensure that both Moorland Road and Occupation Lane were covered.

After the decision yesterday, Mr Mulholland said he was delighted that Leeds City Council had finally agreed to lower the speed limit on Moorland Road and Occupation Lane.

He said although both were residential streets the roads had previously been subject to a 60mph speed limit due to a historical anomaly.

He added: “I am delighted that Leeds City Council executive board have approved the introduction of a 30mph speed limit.

“The current speed limit was completely inappropriate and, frankly, dangerous given that children live on the roads in question. “This represents a huge victory for the residents who I had the privilege of working so hard alongside to bring this satisfactory conclusion about.”

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