PLANS for a blanket 20mph speed limit across Dickens Heath have come under fire.
Solihull Council set out plans last month to reduce the speed traffic can travel through the village with a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which gives councils and police powers to enforce regulations including speed limits, on-street parking and one-way streets.
Now the Dickens Heath Residents Association have blasted the plans over the timing of the order, engines being inefficient at low speeds and the village being used for experimental schemes.
In a letter to the Council which was shown to The Observer Trevor Eames, chair of the Dickens Heath Residents Association, said: “My concerns relate in first instance to the timing of the proposed TRO during the peak holiday period with lack of publicity and the wider public preoccupation with other significant issues e.g. the Commonwealth Games.
“There is a very low level of public awareness within the village resulting in virtually no public input or even that of the Parish Council.”
He added the design of the village coupled with parking arrangements already restricts traffic speeds. Traffic calming is effectively built-in.
In his objection Mr Eames said: “Internal combustion engines are very inefficient at such low speeds and produce higher levels of emissions and can lead to congestion that conflicts with the council’s environmental clean air policy.
“Dickens Heath seems to be an unfortunate target for experimental schemes and I would also remind the authority that when the last major scheme was introduced (parking on pavements) and came up for a proper public consultation review after the temporary assessment period Solihull Council decided to make it permanent despite the village poll response coming strongly down against doing so.
“On a positive note we would support a limited 20mph speed restriction on the section of Tythe Barn Lane adjacent to the Village Community Primary School although parking does severely inhibit speed it would increase driver awareness.”
Solihull Council pointed out it had taken out press notices and the proposal was published on its website.
Solihull Council said: “This proposal is part of a wider borough review of speed limits, as you can see from the other notices.
“Following the recent public consultation, the response will now be reviewed before a decision is made, the time to advertise, review, decide and implement any TRO can typically take between three to six months.”
