Green party

Greens deliver safer streets for Leicester

02 October 2008

The Green Party’s national campaign to cut road deaths and injuries in towns and cities celebrated another victory yesterday when Green Councillors in Leicester gained the agreement of the City Council to bring in a default 20 mph speed limit.

The Green Party motion, which introduces a 20 mph limit on all unclassified roads, means safer speeds on all roads in Leicester except major roads. It passed with the support of Labour and Conservative councillors, but was opposed by the Liberal Democrats.

Bringing in 20 mph zones in towns and cities is a key priority for the Green Party, and the new policy for Leicester follows similar success for Greens in Norwich, where plans are underway to introduce a blanket 20 mph limit over the next two years following a vote in May.  

Green Councillor Matt Follett, who proposed the Leicester motion alongside colleague Phil Gordon, said:

“If anybody doubted the value of having Green Councillors, this dispels them. Through careful persuasion of the other parties, just two Greens have succeeded in bringing in this important measure that will benefit everyone in Leicester.

“The new 20 mph speed limits will have a positive impact on people using alternatives to the car, on the health of young people and, of course, on the level of pedestrian casualties in the city.”

Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party and Leader of the official opposition Green Party Group on Norwich City Council, said of the Leicester decision:

“Councillors Follett and Gordon have to be congratulated on pushing this measure through so rapidly. Their success is another victory in the Green Party’s ongoing campaign for lower speeds and safer streets.

“Greens across the UK are campaigning for 20 mph to be the default limit in built-up areas and Green Councillors putting forward these proposals to many local authorities.

“With a default 20 mph speed limit, it can often be the case that fewer road humps are needed than with limited ‘home zones’, and it is easier to communicate the message that 20mph is the appropriate speed on residential roads where children and people of all ages need to be able to walk about safely.

“Lower speed limits don’t just create safer streets for everyone, they also mean better air quality and lower carbon emissions as they make it easier and safer to walk and cycle."

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