Birmingham City Council has approved proposals for a pilot 20MPH speed limit to cover large parts of central, east and south Birmingham.

The '20 is Plenty' pilot received Cabinet backing despite 58% of the 3565 people who responded to a public consultation saying they were against it.

Twenty councillors supported the proposal, with a further eight either against, neutral or supportive of 20MPH limits only outside schools.

Cabinet Member James McKay (Labour) said the scheme will lead to less traffic congestion, better health, less noise, more social interaction and stronger communities.

Birmingham's director of public health Dr Adrian Phillips added: “We know from similar schemes elsewhere that reducing the speed limit from 30MPH to 20MPH can significantly increase the numbers of walkers and cyclists and that can only be a good thing.”

The Road Haulage Association and Conservative councillor Rob Alden both said they object to blanket 20MPH limits, but do support measures targeted specifically at routes running near schools.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Jerry Blackett said: “Businesses and particularly retailers will welcome a scheme which could encourage more pedestrians to visit a city where it is safer to shop.”

The council has made it clear that the majority of the city’s traffic travels on the 10% of the road network that will stay at 30 or 40MPH.

(Photo: Ed Greens)

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