Move to impose 20mph speed limit on Keynsham roads comes under fire

A COUNCILLOR and former police officer has criticised plans to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit in Keynsham.

Under the plans, all roads except for main routes in and out of town could soon be subject to the new limit.

A consultation is currently drawing to a close, with Bath & North East Somerset Council encouraging people to comment on the planned changes before March 28.

But Conservative councillor for Keynsham South Alan Hale said the new plans were "nonsense".

The former police officer said: "This is a large amount of money being spent on a new system we just don't need.

"Statistics show only a handful of serious accidents have occurred in the area over the last five years. One was fatal and would not have been avoided with a 20mph limit."

Mr Hale went on to criticise the first part of the consultation which yielded a "small majority" in favour of the changes.

He said: "I will continue to fight this terrible un-focused, un-targeted, unjustified waste of valuable money that could be used elsewhere in a focused, targeted and justified way."

A final decision on implementing the changes, which would affect almost all residential roads, will be announced after the consultation's closing date.

If the plans are carried out a new 20mph zone would cover all roads except for Bristol Road, Station Road, Keynsham Road and outer stretches of Charlton Road, Bath Road and the Wellsway.

Since the first public consultation some roads previously excluded have been added to the planned zone, including Charlton Road from the High Street to Park Close junction; Bath Road from Bath Hill to the Chandag Road junction; the Wellsway from Bath Hill to a point near its junction with Chewton Road; and Avon Mill Lane.

B&NES cabinet member for transport Roger Symonds said: "We have made some changes to the Keynsham proposals since the last consultation. I hope that people take this opportunity to have their say."

The planned 20mph zone would also cover every road in nearby Saltford, with the exception of the A4 Bath Road, the main route from Bristol to Bath.

The consultation is only open to affected residents, who have been sent information and reply envelopes by post.