Series of major city roads will become 20mph zones
BBCAbout 90% of Bristol's roads will soon be 20mph, after councillor voted to reduce speed limits on a series of routes across the city.
The vast majority of proposed changes were approved at a Bristol City Council meeting on Thursday, though some with shorter 20mph sections than originally intended after opposition from councillors.
A public consultation found a majority of respondents disagreed with many of the plans, but the council argued the plans would improve safety.
The chair of the council's transport committee said the 90 roads in question accounted for about 5% of the city's network but 30% of its serious and fatal casualties. The changes are expected to come into effect next year.
Which roads are affected?
The main roads affected include Church Road, Two Mile Hill Road, Winterstoke Road, Coronation Road, Westbury Road, Temple Gate, Anchor Road, Hotwell Road and parts of Wells Road.
On Greystoke Avenue, local councillor Kaz Self succeeded in negotiating a shorter stretch of 20mph than had originally been proposed.
Plans for Bath Road were also modified to only cover from Arnos Park up to the Three Lamps junction, and a compromise was reached in relation to Falcondale Road.
Filton Avenue and Airport Road were originally proposed to get 20mph limits, but these plans were withdrawn and they will now keep their existing 30mph limits.
What are the costs and benefits?
The council said its primary reason for changing the speed limits was to improve safety.
The council has a target of bringing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the city's roads down to zero by 2030.
It budgeted up to £800,000 to introduce the new limits, which it said were "one of the most cost-effective tools" to improve safety.
Conservative councillor Mark Weston, who represents Henbury and Brentry, was the only member of the committee to oppose the new limits.
He pointed out that 82% of people who lived in Brentry said they were against the plans.
"If you live out in the suburbs where I do and you look at the responses, they are very heavily against what is being proposed," Weston said.
"We're going to make a mistake if we ignore overwhelming opposition from the public and crash this through," he added.
The council argued the impact on journey times would be negligible, with traffic jams a greater cause of delays than lower speed limits.
The council estimated the scheme would bring £3m of economic benefits in its first year through a reduction in accidents.
The new speed limits will be enforced by Avon and Somerset Police. Neither the force, nor Bristol City Council, generate income from speeding fines, as the money is sent directly to the government.
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