West Lothian councillors back plans for 20mph zones

Councillors have backed plans to begin the roll-out of the national 20mph strategy across communities in West Lothian.

Consultation will begin in the largest communities on streets selected for the new speed limit before a community consultation begins.

But there remain questions about long term Holyrood funding for the scheme, and how the new 20mph zones will be policed.

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Kenneth Brown, the roads network manager, told a meeting of the council’s executive that a review of the 586 residential areas considered under the 2024/25 Accident Investigation and Prevention Programme shows that this tackles the areas with most residential casualties first.

Consultation will begin in the largest communities on streets selected for the new speed limit before a community consultation begins.placeholder image
Consultation will begin in the largest communities on streets selected for the new speed limit before a community consultation begins.

The plan is to introduce the Scottish Government scheme in three tiers. The first tier includes Livingston, Polbeth, West Calder, Bathgate and Blackburn.

The second phase includes Linlithgow, Broxburn, Uphall, Armadale and Whitburn. The third phase would include all other remaining settlements.

Funding for the introduction of the scheme has been guaranteed for the next two financial years.

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Mr Brown said all nine local area committees, covering communities across the council areas, would be consulted and provided with maps and streets proposed for the change.

Alongside local member consultation and that with community councils, the council will also conduct an online public survey.

Broxburn Conservative Councillor Angela Doran-Timson: “How much will it cost the council for subsequent years if funding isn’t forthcoming?”

Mr Brown said it was the council’s intention to get as much funding from Transport Scotland as possible to implement the scheme but, should it fall short, it could use its own Accident Prevention fund to roll out the scheme. There are other funding schemes within Transport Scotland which can be tapped into as well.

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Councillor Damian Doran-Timson, Conservative group leader, said: “If no money’s forthcoming I would not want to see the council spending a penny of its own money on this.”

Pauline Stafford, the SNP depute group leader said: “I really welcome this funding coming from the Scottish Government and the fact that they have left it up to every local authority to determine what’s right for their communities.”

Councillor Tom Conn’s motion to introduce the temporary traffic restriction orders and start the consultation process was accepted by the meeting. He again stressed that the speed limits would be introduced only on ‘appropriate roads’.

After the meeting Councillor Conn, executive councillor for the environment and sustainability, added: “Evidence shows that driving at 20mph can drastically improve a person’s chances of surviving an accident, or escaping serious injury.

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“The common-sense approach to the implementation plan, in appropriate urban areas, being taken in West Lothian will see speed limits reduced in the busiest areas first.

“This will improve road safety for the maximum number of local residents, as soon as possible.”

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