By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Introducing a 20mph speed limit on Townhill Way outside Moorlands Primary School has been ruled out.
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Conservative group leader Peter Baillie urged Southampton City Council to drop the 30mph limit on Townhill Way.
He said the main reason was to improve safety outside.
Cllr Baillie asked why the move had not been pursued to make pupils feel safer.
Jacqui Rayment, Labour councillor responsible for transport, said the council had learned 20mph limits should be introduced on roads that support the lower speed limit in terms of geometry, land use and function.
Cllr Rayment said: “Townhill Way would not lend itself to a 20mph limit under this criteria.”
Discussing the issue at full council on Wednesday, September 23, Cllr Baillie said the administration had previously stated it took children’s safety very seriously.
He said: “You take children’s safety very seriously.
“As we have a school entrance that opens onto Townhill Way, would you not agree with me that pupils are safer if cars are travelling at 20mph rather than 30mph?”
After Cllr Rayment agreed with this statement, Cllr Baillie said: “Why not do everything in your power to have 20mph down Townhill Way? The difference going at 20mph, is 17 seconds.”
He added: “Do you not think that’s worth it?”
Cllr Rayment replied: “In some respects, it’s irrelevant whether I think it’s worth it or not.
“It’s whether it can be done and officers have said in their response, and I am not a technical transport officer, I am a humble citizen of this city that happens to have the portfolio, that this road doesn’t lend itself to a 20 mile an hour.”
The Labour councillor said she had asked officers to see if Moorlands asked to be part of the council’s safer routes to school programme, which has seen investment put into other sites, including St Monica Primary School and Foundry Lane Primary School.
Cllr Rayment said: “We are more than willing to work with schools to make sure that the children’s safety is paramount, but they have to want to work with us as well.
“As I’ve said about the 20mph, our technical officers have been out, they’ve inspected it, they’ve said it doesn’t lend itself to having the 20mph limit. I can do no more.”
Previously
Manor Farm Road: Call for action to prioritise safety over speed
East of city ‘neglected’ in rollout of 20mph speed limits
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