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Parish Council Application for 20mph speed limit signage.

You may recall that in October 2022 a detailed application for 20mph signage, through Embsay  and Eastby, was submitted by the Parish Council to North Yorkshire Highways, and published in the Embsay Post.

It was some 4 months later – after asking for a response – that we received a brief answer indicating that the Highways engineer did not agree with the need for a 20mph limit and in any event there would be two sets of cost to be found. Initially for up to ten Data Collection Units at £100 a time, and subsequently a cost of approx £1000 per time for up to ten street humps and reconfigurations.

The Parish Council’s understanding of the legal requirements regarding 20mph limits was that ‘Signage Only’ was acceptable and had been implemented elsewhere, so as a result of not being satisfied with the initial brief response from Highways the Council sought more detail and validation regarding the process.The subsequent response from Highways provided the essential detail.

Highways identified where Data Collection Boxes would need to be situated to obtain the existing average speeds of vehicles passing through the majority of the ‘high risk’ sites identified in our Application.

North Yorkshire Council has recently identified the parameters whereby ‘only’  20 mph signage can be put in place. Essentially this indicates that where the average speed of the greater percentage of vehicles is 24mph or less, then that can be a suitable site for just 20mph speed limit signage. The theory being that as existing traffic is driving very close to that speed, drivers only need to be reminded to keep to that speed for the signage to be effective, and there is no need to use scarce police resource to monitor actual speeds.

It appears likely that many of the Data Collection points identified by Highways will meet the 24mph or less parameter.  The Parish Council therefore has to decide whether or not to request the most relevant data boxes be put in place and provide the funding for their set-up. It will also have to bear in mind that some of the resultant information may require expensive speed bumps or other obstructions in order to provide a consistent speed limit through the villages, and that a source of funds may be needed for that.

The Collection of Data does not mean, or commit, the Parish Council to going ahead with the funding of any 20mph signage with obstructions.

A proposal and vote will be taken at the next Parish Council Meeting.

Embsay With Eastby Parish Council