Conservative councillors have spoken out against plans to reduce speed limits on the A4174 ring road.
The Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition in charge of South Gloucestershire Council wants to lower the speed limit on the A4174 from 50mph to 40mph between Stoke Gifford and Bromley Heath, and to 30mph along the entrance to the University of the West of England’s Filton campus.
But the council’s opposition Conservative Group has branded the plans “unnecessary” and “counter-productive”, and has called for a rethink.
In their feedback on the initial consultation, Avon and Somerset Police failed to support the council’s proposals, reminding the administration that “the speed limit should look and feel like the limit”. The Conservatives say that the ring road looks and feels like a 50mph road and that reducing it to 40mph would cause more problems than it solves.
The police also said that they would not be able to legally enforce reduced speed limits.
Cllr Liz Brennan, Leader of the Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council, said:
“The Conservatives are totally opposed to these frankly ridiculous speed limit reductions on the ring road.
“Introducing a uniform 40 mph limit on this stretch of road would feel out of step with what drivers expect, potentially lowering compliance, increasing frustration and making the road less safe, which is counter-productive.
“At a time when the council is struggling financially, the administration should be spending money on highways projects that will actually make things better for residents, such as filling potholes, relining roads and reducing congestion.
“Residents don’t support the plans. The police don’t support the plans. And the Conservative Group doesn’t support the plans. The Lib Dem/Labour administration therefore needs to stop, listen and rethink.”
The A4174 is a dual carriageway built to handle higher speeds, and a 40 mph limit doesn’t align with the nature of the road.
Cllr Keith Cranney, one of the Conservative councillors for Stoke Gifford, said:
“Lowering the speed limit on the ring road will lead to more congestion, higher levels of pollution and lots of confusion for drivers.
“The evidence to support the proposals is extremely weak. The ring road was intended to make traffic flow better around the outskirts of Bristol. But these changes will cause big problems in areas like Stoke Gifford, Frenchay, Downend and Winterbourne.
“The police have not supported these speed reductions and have in fact confirmed that they will not enforce them. So why is the Lib Dem/Labour administration carrying on with them? They need to scrap them immediately.”
Members of the public have called the proposals “utter nonsense”, “ludicrous” and a “waste of money”.
The Conservative Group will continue to campaign for the speed limits on the ring road to stay as they are.
