Consultation opens on plans to make Wheatfield and Dewfalls a 20mph zone

Proposed 20mph speed zone in Wheatfield Drive, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

A statutory speed limit of 20mph could soon be introduced on roads around Wheatfield Primary School in Bradley Stoke.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has opened a public consultation on plans to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph along the entire lengths of Wheatfield Drive, Dewfalls Drive and Harvest Close.

The purpose of the scheme is to reduce traffic speed in the vicinity of Wheatfield Primary School, which will “improve road safety for vulnerable road users as well as making walking and cycling to school more attractive”.

Local residents are now being encouraged to respond to a public consultation on the proposals, which runs until 2nd December.

The move follows a decision made by SGC in September 2013  to implement 20mph limits/zones outside all South Gloucestershire schools “as a matter of priority”.

The council says its approach is in line with guidance from the government, which is encouraging local authorities to introduce 20mph speed limits or zones in residential areas being used by people on foot or bicycle.

Avon and Somerset Police have told the council that it should have no expectation that 20mph limits, just like another other speed limits, will be routinely enforced, adding that enforcement is always “intelligence led”.

Depending upon the results of the public consultation and public advertisement of the required traffic regulation orders, SGC says it is hoped that the proposed scheme will be implemented during 2016.

More information:

  1. Proposed 20mph zone in Wheatfield Drive, Dewfalls Drive and Harvest Close (SGC consultation page)
  2. The installation of 20mph speed limits and zones in South Gloucestershire (SGC meeting report from 2013)
  3. Council decision on 20mph speed limit zones (SGC minutes from 2013; item 49 refers)
Share this page:

6 comments

  1. I wasn’t aware it was possible to pass about 5 mph on Wheatfield Drive during school drop off/pick up times due to the gridlock of cars.

  2. You forgot the quotes around “consultation”. Like we have a say, they have clearly already decided : “The move follows a decision made by SGC in September 2013 to implement 20mph limits/zones outside all South Gloucestershire schools “as a matter of priority”.”
    Also pointless without enforcement. I think 20mph limit is a very good idea but without enforcement it’s a waste of money and time to go painting big 20s on the roads (only for VIrgin Media to dig them up again).

  3. Can’t agree more with these two comments.

    What an absolute waste of ‘OUR’ money. How much is this madcap scheme going to cost. I bet it’s twenty grand by the time all the South Glos back room boys get there pay.

    The police, by their own admission, won’t enforce it. No one will notice any difference and no lives will be saved. Of course this scheme is bound to get the go ahead as the two South Glos Councillors that represent this area are both hand wringing Liberals who don’t even live within five miles of Bradley Stoke. Doubt they even know where the roads are. When will common sense dawn on South Glos? We want front line services maintained not shelved to pay for these useless ill thought out schemes.

  4. Rich,
    I think you will find that the two local councillors are Brian Hopkinson and Sarah Pomfret, both of whom are Conservative.
    Are you getting confused with the Hockeys, who represent Frampton Cotterell. Having lived for a few years down Wheatfield, I agree with Simon about the speed. Whilst I agree that all “dead-end” road should perhaps be limited to 20 mph, there needs to be the quid quo pro or raising some of the 30 mph limits on the through roads up to 40.

  5. I’ve lived down Wheatfield for over 10 years, even in the dead of night I don’t think it’s possible to go above 20mph with the winding of the road and narrowing points. This really is a non-starter. If they do then somehow “enforce” it, it would mean a camera van or cop car parked in a street and with cars parked all over the road anyway, adding to that it would actually make it more dangerous. You would catch no one.

  6. Consultation feedback: “A total of 18 responses were received of which 13 supported the proposals, 3 were against the proposals and 2 other comments were received.” Full report.

Comments are closed.