Halstead councillor supporting 20's plenty campaign

Halstead town councillor Dave Gronland, who also sits on the local highways panel, is a big advocate for the '20’s plenty' campaign.

20's Plenty for Us has more than 600 local groups campaigning to make cities, towns and villages around the world better places to be.

The group is campaigning for a blanket speed limit of 20mph to be normal on residential streets and in town and village centres, unless full consideration of the needs of vulnerable road users allows a higher limit on particular streets.

Mr Gronland attended a national conference last week.

Halstead Town Councillor Dave Gronland (Image: N/A)

He said: “I read about it and how it has worked in various towns in England, so I went along.

“This is not a council policy, it was me finding out more, but the seminar was brilliant.”

The Safer Essex Road Partnership’s 'Vision Zero' strategy is to achieve zero deaths and serious injuries on the county's roads by 2040, and reduce them by 50 per cent by 2030.

Mr Gronland said: “I spoke to one presenter about Vision Zero, and he said he wasn’t sure how it will be possible without 20’s Plenty.

“The facts show if we reduced to 20mph, whilst there would still be some going over the limit, the average speed would go down.

“Deaths and injuries would decrease, as would noise and fume pollution.

“I have tried a couple of times to get the 20’s Plenty in parts of Halstead but it has been rejected before.

“I have sent my report to all members of the Braintree Association of Local Councils, a number of Chelmsford councillors, MP James Cleverly, Halstead Town Council, and am optimistic Essex County Council will look at it again.

“It may take a couple of years, but I am starting the journey now in the hope of start stirring the pot.”

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “The best way to take this forward is by speaking to your local county councillor and if they support your idea, they can put it through to the Local Highway Panel.”