Update – lower speed limits around schools and education establishments – a very long and detailed (but important) post.
Regular readers of this Facebook page will know that at the CWaC Budget Council meeting in February, I proposed an amendment to correct the anomaly whereby over 20 schools and education establishments across the borough are not covered by a 20mph speed limit and were effectively missed out when the council introduced a £1 million rollout of such zones from 2016. I believe – and continue to believe – that the presence of such an institution should mean that as a point of principle and policy, the speed limit in these locations should be the lowest possible. This is a matter of public safety and especially children’s safety, not least owing to the fact that such locations inevitably have much increased pedestrian and cycle use.
At the ‘Places Overview and Scrutiny’ meeting on Monday evening, a report was presented around the review that Council has been undertaking regarding these locations and I am pleased to report there has been some progress. Here’s a summary of the outcomes to date in respect of the 28 educational establishments reviewed:
• Abbeygate College and Whitegate CE Primary already had a speed limit assessment and are progressing as per the agreed policy. New 20mph limits are expected to be installed by September 2025, subject to no objections being received during the formal advertising stage.
• Four are accessed along private roads with no pedestrian facilities, it is therefore recommended no further action to change the speed limit on the adjoining adopted highway. These are Archers Brook SEMH School, Cransley School, Imap and Petty Pool College.
• With the new speed data, 11 locations were under the 30mph threshold for schools, therefore it is proposed that these are designed and consulted on, with a view to implementing 20mph speed limits on these roads as soon as possible. These include Byley Primary, Cheshire College, South and West Ellesmere Port Campus, Crowton Christ Church Primary, Dee Banks Primary, Hartford High School, Huntington Community Primary, St Martins Academy, The Ellesmere Port C of E College, The Queens Lower School, The Rudheath Senior Academy, University of Chester
• 4 sites were single lane carriageway with a mean speed varying between 30.2 and 30.8mph. Whilst these do not meet the criteria for a mandatory 20mph, it is proposed to introduce an advisory 20mph speed limit when lights are flashing to operate during school start and finish times. As the mean speed is within the threshold of the existing policy, there are no proposed changes to the existing policy. Although these types of features are deployed throughout the country, it will be new for Cheshire West and Chester. It is therefore proposed to monitor these for a 12 month period to determine compliance, or whether other measures are required. These are Ashton Hayes Primary School, Bishop Heber High School, Duddon St Peters CE Primary and Weaverham Primary Academy.
• 2 locations have recently had the speed limit reduced from 40mph to30mph. It is intended to monitor these locations. Wrexham Road in Chester, the location of the Kings School, currently has extensive road works as part of a development until November 2025. The Temporary Traffic Regulation Order currently in place on Wrexham Road to reduce the speed limit to 30mph outside the school, is in place until September 2026. Speeds will continue to be monitored during this time, and will be reviewed in line with the TTRO or at the outcome of the Coroners Inquest. The other location is TTE Training Limited.
• Witton Walk Church Primary is located adjacent to a dual carriageway subject to a 30mph speed limit, and the speed survey shows compliance, therefore no further action is proposed.
• Winsford High Street Community Primary School is located on a dual carriageway, and it is proposed to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph, its current mean speed in both directions is 29mph and is therefore suitable for this proposed measure.
• 2 schools Clutton CE Primary and Helsby High School are located on single lane 40mph A roads, which showed speeds that would not meet the criteria for a 20mph or 30mph limit without additional engineering measures being introduced. It is proposed to investigate this further to determine any speed reduction options.
• The School of Veterinary Science near Neston is located on a 60mph dual carriageway. This was not considered suitable for a 20mph limit, so was originally discounted, however it has now been agreed that this location requires further assessment for speed reduction, therefore speed surveys are currently being undertaken
There’s more to do, but we are getting there. During our deliberations, I also proposed that, owing to the fact that the overall ‘20mph policy’ is now nearly 10 years old, there would be benefit in the Cabinet reviewing it and ensuring it remains ‘fit for purpose.’ This is important and the recommendation was added to the report the committee agreed. Whilst I accept we should use ‘data’ as much as possible when making decisions on these matters, it is also important that we have a pragmatic approach, especially when there are other factors in place – such as the presence of a school – which mean additional weight should be given to them when making decisions about speed limits that are in place. I know Chester South & Eddisbury MP Aphra Brandreth has also been pressing points like this at both a local level and in Parliament / to members of the Government.
I will continue to monitor this work and press for the action required which was the clearly expressed will of the full Council in February, on a cross-party basis. It was good to hear from representatives of the Make Wrexham Road Safe Campaign and the ‘20s Plenty Campaign’ at the meeting – their views matter hugely in the context of this whole discussion.
