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The Forum noted that no Roads Officers were in attendance and the Chair highlighted the following update received:

 

Funding for road assessments – national strategy for 20mph zones

 

Transport Scotland have been working with SCOTS and COSLA to identify the most effective route to implement 20mph speed limits across Scotland.

 

This follows a trial in the Scottish Borders council area which was run with input from experts from Edinburgh Napier University, who carried out an independent evaluation from 125 survey sites over 97 settlements.

 

They found vehicle speeds have reduced in almost all settlements, in some instances by 6mph, with an average reduction closer to 3mph.

 

To support the national decision making process an assessment of the road network is required to help identify the number of roads potentially affected and the financial implications.

 

To support this assessment the Scottish Government has allocated £1.4million across Scotland’s 32 local roads authorities.

 

Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute Council has received £31,000 from this fund which has been used to bring in a temporary resource to complete the 20mph road assessment.

 

The results of this assessment will estimate the cost of measures to support 20mph limits across the local road network.

 

Following the outcome of the road assessment Transport Scotland will continue to work closely with SCOTS and COSLA to better understand further cost implications stemming from the yet to-be-agreed route for implementation of the strategy and, subject to Ministerial approval, will seek to provide additional funding where required.

 

Place Criteria

The assessment exercise itself will be done in the context of a place criteria which forms part of the National Strategy for 20mph Road Assessment Guidance (June 2022)

 

Identifying any of the following place criteria will help to indicate the 30mph roads which are considered appropriate for potential alteration to 20mph. The roads which remain at 30mph will typically be on A and B Class roads with little frontage activity and where people walking, wheeling and cycling do not need to share space with motor traffic.

A minimum road length for the speed limit is suggested between 400-600m. The length adopted will depend on the conditions at or beyond the end points.

 

a)    Is the road within 100m walk of any educational setting (e.g. primary, secondary, further & higher education)

b)    Does the number of residential and/or retail premises fronting the road (on one or both sides) exceed 20 over a continuous road length of between 400 - 600m. Other key buildings should also be considered such as a church, shop or school.

c)    Is the road within 100m walk of any community centre, church, place of worship, sports facility, any hospital, GP or health centre.

d)    Does the composition of road users imply a lower speed of 20 mph which will improve the conditions and facilities for vulnerable road users and other mode shift (reflect on future plans such as active and sustainable travel, places for people, consider existing and potential levels of vulnerable road users)

Will the road environment, surrounding environment, community and quality of life impact (e.g. severance, noise, or air quality) be improved by implementing 20mph speed limits.

 

Assessment

 

The steps we will take to conduct the assessment will include:

 

• Carry out an initial desktop assessment of existing speed limits within Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute Council’s local road network;
• The assessment of existing 20mph limits should be completed against the place criteria and consider

1. If the existing 20mph is sufficient (i.e. self-enforcing); or
2. The existing 20mph requires additional measures to meet compliance; or
3. The existing 20mph should be amended to a 30mph

• The assessment of existing 30mph limits should be assessed on the presumption that they will be reduced to 20mph.  The following should be considered :

a.    not all 30mph roads which meet the place criteria are appropriate for a 20mph speed limit.

b.    there are 30mph roads which do not meet the place criteria but are suitable for 20mph.

c.    there are some 30mph roads that will remain at 30mph.

• Consultation with Elected Members
• Consultation with relevant bodies/organisations (e.g. public transport operators, emergency services, community councils) to collate impact of amended speed limits and any proposed traffic management measures.
• Compilation of the assessment form, including RAG status, proposed traffic management measures and estimated costs.
• Produce and provide a GIS map containing the current position for the area on existing 20 and 30mph roads.
• Produce and provide a GIS map containing the proposed 20 and 30mph roads after the assessment.

We are aiming to complete this review exercise by the end of March 2023 and to report this to EDI in June 2023.

 

Following that submission we will continue to engage with Transport Scotland to seek clarity on the next steps in the process.

 

Outcome

 

The forum noted the update.