13 Feb 2024
A St Albans Parliamentary candidate is calling on the county council to scrap its roll-out of 20mph speed zones.
John Dowdle, who represents Reform UK in the constituency race, says the cost of the project is unjustified at a time when the HCC director of finance has warned all county councillors that County Hall has an “extremely serious financial position”.
He said: “The [Conservative] administration are squandering £2.3m for the roll-out of more 20mph zones in Hertfordshire, according to budget proposals for 2024/25. Already this year (2023/24) the council has spent £3m on 20mph zones – with plans to waste a further £1.7m next year (2025/26) too. All in all, the administration at County Hall is prepared to waste £7 million in total on mad schemes that few – if any – Hertfordshire residents actually want. This wasteful spending must be stopped immediately.
“It is clearly wrong that Hertfordshire residents are expected to stump up extra council tax payments to finance vanity projects at County Hall.
“We are on the side of local residents in resisting the net-zero “madness” that afflicts all county councillors. For too long, elected councillors and local government officers have been spending money – council tax-payers money – on projects and schemes which eventuate in local and county councillors over-spending completely unnecessarily, and then expecting to be bailed-out by increasing council tax levels. At a time of a cost of living crisis, this must stop once and for all.”
He stressed: “We do support the existence of slower speed zones in the vicinity of schools, care homes, hospitals and fire stations.
“Most motorists are grown adults and apply their natural reason to comprehend that such restrictions are to be observed based on rational criteria, rather than enforced through Big Brother-type technology, like speed cameras. Most of us want to live in 2024 – not in some Orwellian 1984.”
A petition John set up on HCC’s website at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk has been signed by more than 1,500 people, but the county council has refused to debate the issue at the next full council meeting this evening.
An HCC representative told him: “Whilst [the petition] does now have the requisite number of verified signatures, it had not at the point at which notice of intent to present was given/required to be given. The Chairman has determined that, since the introduction of 20mph speed limits is a policy which has been underway for a number of years, it is unclear as to how your petition could regarded as ‘Urgent’; as such, he has declined to accept your petition for presentation at [tonight’s] council meeting. You may, however, present it to the next meeting of council thereafter (on 21 May) or, if you prefer, you are welcome to present it to the next Highways and Transport Cabinet Panel meeting on 12 March.”
In response, John said: “The purpose of my petition was to get the council to re-consider its spending policies on this unwanted, unrequested and unnecessary highways and transport policy. The current year over-spend situation has been exacerbated by a further £2.3 million spending on a 20 mph speed zones roll-out program which neither the council nor Hertfordshire council taxpayers can afford.
“If this is not going to be allowed – despite my petition having reached 1,500 signatures (which suggests a very high level of concern and support among Hertfordshire residents over HCC’s continuous and deliberate policy of over-spending) – then I will consult with others as to whether or not we should investigate contacting central government to request an investigation of HCC’s financial policies, probity and prudence.”
County council leader Cllr Richard Roberts then added: “Just for clarification, this Conservative administration does not support blanket roll-out of 20 mph schemes. If residents want a local scheme they can have one, if they don’t want one, they don’t have one. Labour in Wales has rolled out blanket 20 mph and the Lib Dems are seeking the same here, it is in their budget proposals for [tonight].
“In the same way that the Conservative administration does not support ULEZ, Labour and the Lib Dems do. It’s about priorities. We will fix the roads, look after the elderly, pay carers a decent wage and support children with SEND.
“Our budget protects and maintains residents’ services but is looking to save £46m through efficiencies and transformation of the organisation. Our residents are feeling the pinch during this cost of living challenge, it affects the county council as well. We all have to tighten our belts but we choose to put residents, their services and Hertfordshire first.”
whether or not we should investigate contacting central government to request an investigation of HCC’s financial policies, probity and prudence.”
County council leader Cllr Richard Roberts then added: “Just for clarification, this Conservative administration does not support blanket roll-out of 20 mph schemes. If residents want a local scheme they can have one, if they don’t want one, they don’t have one. Labour in Wales has rolled out blanket 20 mph and the Lib Dems are seeking the same here, it is in their budget proposals for [Tuesday].
“In the same way that the Conservative administration does not support ULEZ, Labour and the Lib Dems do. It’s about priorities. We will fix the roads, look after the elderly, pay carers a decent wage and support children with SEND. Our budget protects and maintains residents’ services but is looking to save £46m through efficiencies and transformation of the organisation. Our residents are feeling the pinch during this cost of living challenge, it affects the county council as well. We all have to tighten our belts but we choose to put residents, their services and Hertfordshire first.”
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council said: “We know from a transport survey conducted for us last year by YouGov, that almost two thirds of our residents support the introduction of 20mph speed limits in residential areas and in town centres, and our draft Integrated Plan sets aside money create more 20mph areas.
“However, we think it’s important that we consult residents before reducing speed limits in an area, and clearly not all roads are suited to a 20mph speed limit. We will therefore only look to introduce a 20mph zone where there is clear local support and where we’re confident that changing the speed limit will make a real difference to traffic speeds.
“We’re targeting lower speed roads around places where people live, work, learn and shop – places where we want people to feel safe and comfortable in the street environment and encouraged to walk and cycle their journeys.
“When they are implemented in the right way, 20mph zones can have significant benefits for residents and road users, including improving safety and air quality, and reducing traffic noise.”
You can see the petition here: https://democracy.hertfordshire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=1177&RPID=34000840&HPID=34000840
