Plans underway to create new 20mph zones for safer streets

Plans to introduce 20mph speed limits are underway in three neighbourhoods of Surrey, aiming to improve road safety. Surrey County Council (SCC) is consulting on the implementation of slower-speed zones in Barnsbury and Bonsey Lane in Woking, the Goodwyns estate in Dorking, and the Parsonage Road area of Cranleigh.

Each of these schemes is projected to cost 20,000, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Speed surveys conducted by SCC revealed that drivers in these areas are already mostly adhering to the current speed limits. As a result, the new speed regulations could be enforced without the need for physical measures like speed bumps or chicanes.

In Woking, the council may also add "light-touch" measures such as vehicle-activated signs or painted road roundels on Bonsey Lane to further remind drivers to reduce their speed. The consultation page noted that research shows 20mph zones do not contribute to higher levels of air pollution.

The page further explained, "Lower vehicle speeds encourage a shift towards more walking, scooting, and cycling, leading to fewer polluting vehicles on the roads... While some may be concerned that a 20mph limit could increase travel times, most delays in built-up areas are caused by congestion at junctions, not between them."

Additionally, SCC is consulting on lowering the speed limit to 20mph in four other streets in Woking: Orchard Mains, Wych Hill Rise, Blackbridge Road, and Fernhill Close. Local residents can view the latest consultation details online or at nearby libraries.

Author: Riley Thompson