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Council’s six 20mph zone proposals criticised as “pathetic”

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A council proposal to introduce trial 20mph zones on six of the borough’s roads near schools has been described as “pathetic” and “uninspiring” by local road safety and cycling campaigners.

Croydon Council is to discuss the proposal, funded with £200,000 from Transport for London, next week.

It is another instance of the Conservative-run council introducing measures now that have been lobbied for and included in other political groups’ manifestos, purely coincidentally just a few weeks ahead of the local elections.

But the Croydon Cycling Campaign, the local branch of the London Cycling Campaign, the voice of more than 11,000 people who cycle in the capital, have seen through the council’s 20mph proposal.

“Croydon’s approach to road safety proceeds at 2mph – the council needs to catch up with City of London, Islington and Camden,” said cycling campaigner Austen Cooper.

Croydon is proposing to introduce 20mph zones on the roads near Ark Oval Primary in Cherry Orchard Road; Chipstead Valley Primary; Haling Manor and Regina Coeli Primary on Pampisford Road; Monks Orchard Primary in The Glade; St Thomas Beckett on Birchanger Road; and Wolsey Junior on King Henry Drive.

But on other routes, known to be dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, nothing is being proposed. For instance, Archbishop Lanfranc School, on the A236 Mitcham Road (which comes under the control of TfL), forbids its pupils to cycle to school because the road is so busy and hazardous.

“It’s disappointing that the council is being so timid and piecemeal about a measure that would save lives, make our town a much more liveable, people-friendly place and encourage and enable more people to walk and cycle,” Cooper said of the 20mph proposals.

“I work in Camden, which like a number of other London boroughs, is bringing in 20mph as the default speed limit in all its streets, not just a very few.

“Croydon deserves a lot more and a lot better than this – as its road ‘accident’ figures demonstrate.”

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