AN EXPERIMENTAL 20mph speed limit for streets in Dundee has come a step closer.
Traffic chiefs in the city have promoted an “Experimental Order” in the interests of road safety and to create a safer environment in and around the Glens and Johnston Avenue.
If approved the area will have a 20mph for 12 months before it is reviewed.
Mark Flynn depute convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said: “Following an extensive consultation on the proposed introduction and use of 20mph zones this area came out very strongly in favour.
“As a result the council has agreed that we will bring in a 20mph limit for a year to find out what effect it has on road safety, traffic movement and pedestrian access.
“Anyone who wants to object can do so until February 16 after which it will go to the city development committee for final approval before the scheme is implemented.”
More than 95% of residents in Johnston Avenue who responded to the council run survey in 2016 were in favour of making it a 20mph zone. The overall figures showed that 56% of those who responded city wide said they wanted the maximum speed reduced by 10mph.
The consultation exercise was based on a signage only proposal and any widespread implementation of 20mph limits would not be accompanied by extensive traffic calming measures.
Cllr Flynn added: “A trial will help us to find out more about how to balance residents' responses with the need to keep the city safely on the move as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
Of the 921 responses the council received to its consultation 731 came online with 190 on paper.
The consultation asked, are you in favour of implementing a 20 mph speed limit in general, in your area and in your street?
In answer to the first question 51.3% of respondents said “yes”, while 54.7% of the total answered the same way to the second. The third question received the most positive response with 56.1% saying “yes”.
Streets that were identified by the public that were most unsuitable for 20mph were Perth Road, Blackness Road, Clepington Road; and Kingsway because they are important parts of the principal road network
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
