FIVE new 20mph zones are due to be introduced to improve road safety in residential communities across Leicester.
The new schemes are the latest in a rolling programme of speed-reduction work being carried out by Leicester City Council in areas where residents have called for action to help tackle traffic issues.
The five latest schemes include the streets around Braunstone Frith Primary School, the area around Calver Hey Road in Beaumont Leys, the Frolesworth Road area of New Parks, Osmaston Road in Stoneygate and the streets surrounding Wolsey House Primary School in Beaumont Leys.
All are funded under the city council’s Transport Improvements Works budget, which is part of the council’s capital budget for major infrastructure works and funded by a Government grant.
Each of the new 20mph zones will be installed and in operation by spring 2024.
In Braunstone Frith, the scheme will include dozens of streets to the north of Scudamore Drive, to the east of Liberty Road and as far north as Dupont Gardens and Cranstone Crescent.
Speed cushions are planned for Liberty Road and Fulford Road, along with and two raised zebra crossings near the school itself. The scheme will cost around £85,000.
At the same time, a 20mph zone will be put in place on neighbouring streets to the east of Liberty Road, from near the junction on New Parks Boulevard and Liberty Road, as far north and west as Bringhurst Road and Musson Road. That scheme will cost £8,000.
Proposals for the Calver Hey Road area cover the residential streets between Anstey Lane and Heacham Drive, as far as Great Meadow Road, and include speed humps along Calver Hey Road and Great Meadow Road. That scheme will cost around £65,000.
A large 20mph zone is already in place in the residential streets in the southern part of Evington, and the planned Osmaston Road area scheme will expand the area covered by speed restrictions to include more than two dozen streets to the east of East Park Road and south of Chesterfield Road.
The scheme will cost £35,000 and is likely to be in place by March 2024.
Lastly, around £25,000 is due to be spent on bringing in a 20mph zone in the streets around Wolsey House Primary School, in Beaumont Leys, which is also due to be installed by March 2024. That scheme will include streets to the north of Orton Road, as far as Thurcaston Road. A series of speed humps is also planned along that section of Thurcaston Road.
Leicester deputy city mayor for climate, economy and culture, Cllr Adam Clarke, said: “A number of these 20mph zones extend the areas already covered by neighbouring schemes, to ensure that roads throughout those communities are safer for everyone to use.
“This is also progress towards our goal of delivering 20mph zones on 80 percent of the city’s residential streets.
"Evidence has shown that lower traffic speeds greatly reduce the risk and severity of traffic collisions and allow more people to enjoy their local environment, with reported reductions in noise and anti-social driving, as well as helping people feel more confident about walking or cycling in their neighbourhoods.
“These latest schemes build on the previous work that has been ongoing since 2011, and in each case we’ve consulted with local residents, business and ward councillors to ensure these schemes are a good fit for those neighbourhoods.”
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