At a meeting, leading officers appeared to be puzzled by a reference in a council report
Plans to reduce the speed limit on roads in Derby city centre to 20mph have been dismissed as an “error” by leading council officers. Mickleover councillor Matthew Holmes questioned senior Derby City Council officers over the issue while discussing major plans to bolster the city’s flood defences in a new £41 million project. The discussion took place during a planning meeting on Thursday night (November 16).
The project aims to increase flood defences around the city centre, especially at vulnerable locations near the River Derwent which have been hit significantly by flooding in recent times, including as recently as last month when Storm Babet hit the city. Councillor Holmes wanted to understand the justification over why a 20mph speed limit restriction was being proposed for roads including Derwent Street, Stuart Street, Phoenix Street and Exeter Place and how it would be enforced.
The paragraph Cllr Holmes referred to reads: “Information supporting the application indicates that the speed limit in the area is proposed to be changed to 20mph which will support the public realm objectives to reduce the dominance and impact of vehicular traffic through it. Both footways are proposed to be widened and landscaped.
However, officers appeared confused by Cllr Holmes’ question and asked for clarity. Cllr Holmes then pointed to wording on a council planning report about the flood defence project.
“The junction of Phoenix Street and Derwent Street is proposed to be redesigned and a mini roundabout installed on Derwent Street that would provide a turning facility and access into Phoenix Street when the one-way system is reversed. As a result of the works some of the on-street parking spaces on Derwent Street would need to be removed.”
Paul Clark, chief planning officer at Derby City Council, then told councillors that the setting of speed limits was not a planning matter for which they would have to vote on. He said any potential speed limit changes would fall under the responsibility of the council’s highways authority after the plans had been completed.
But officers appeared to backtrack on the 20mph proposals during the meeting. Andrew Gibbard, group manager of planning, transportation and engineering, said: “The reference on page six is probably an error. I don’t think we’ve discussed it – being 20mph.