Applications would be made via Barnet Council’s website, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet residents could soon be given the power to request 20mph zones in their local areas.

At a Barnet Council cabinet meeting last night (Monday 19th) senior Labour councillors agreed to make it easier to introduce 20mph zones in the borough.

Residents could soon be able to make an application for a 20mph zone on their road or in their area via the council’s website. If support for the application can be demonstrated, the council will then assess and prioritise the road or area for implementation.

The draft policy is now going out for public consultation, after which responses and the final policy will then be reported back to cabinet for approval.

Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, told last night’s meeting: “The way we’re doing this policy is, rather than having a borough-wide 20mph zone, we actually prioritise and focus on the areas where evidence shows that there is a problem and where residents have highlighted that there is a problem.”

Cllr Schneiderman told the meeting that, according to collision data, pedestrians struck at 30mph had a 45% chance of being killed compared to a 5% chance if the vehicle is travelling at 20mph.

He reiterated his belief the policy would “make roads safer for residents”.

Salisbury Road and Stapylton Road in High Barnet are being prioritised for lower speed limits, from 30mph to 20mph, due to resident and local councillor concerns over speeding.

The draft policy states “in most cases” 20mph zones are “likely” to be the main tool used to reduce traffic speed, however “there will be cases” where the council considered 20mph limits.

The main difference between 20mph zones and 20mph limits is that zones require traffic calming, such as road narrowing and speed humps, whereas limits use signs and lines alone.

Cabinet members Simon Radford and Alison Moore both voiced their support of the new measure.

Cllr Radford said some “clarity around the process” of making roads a 20mph road would be “welcome” and concluded the policy was a “big step forward”.

Cllr Moore reiterated “a clear policy” would be “really helpful for residents to understand and have an informed discussion during the consultation”.

The draft policy has already gone to the overview and scrutiny committee for debate “on a couple of occasions”, where it was decided ward councillors’ roles would be further stressed during the application process.

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