Wolverhampton ring road speed cut decision questioned
Opposition leaders in Wolverhampton have questioned the decision to cut the speed limit on the ring road, and accused bosses of rushing it through.
The busy ring road has been cut from 40mph to 30mph in a bid to increase safety for cyclists and pedestrians amid the coronavirus crisis.
But the move, which is initially temporary, has raised questions about the impact on motorists and journey times getting around the city, particularly when lockdown is lifted and life begins to return to normal.
Council bosses have said due to an "essential need for social distancing, a fundamental redesign of public space is required to ensure all residents are able to travel, exercise and play safely and comfortably", and that changes must be considered to encourage walking and cycling.
Councillor Wendy Thompson, leader of the opposition Conservatives in Wolverhampton, said she couldn't remember seeing a cyclist on the ring road.
She also said the decision to cut the speed limit had been pushed through without any consultation.
"Normally with these things there is a consultation and quite a lot of councillor involvement, and there would be a time period for this to be properly discussed. I don't like the way it has been done at all. They declared it on Friday afternoon and brought it in on Sunday," Councillor Thompson said.
"If employees are trying to get to work on time and trying to get kids to school there is all this kind of pressure trying to get to work.
"On the ring road there are very few pedestrians on it and I can't remember the last time I saw a cyclist on the ring road, frankly."
Sham Sharma, chairman of the Wolverhampton Business Forum, said he did not believe traders would be impacted by the speed cut.
But he added: "We seem to be making a lot of policies ad hoc. We really need to sit down and think about the city as a whole.
"I can see the logic in reducing it down to 30 but at the same time we need provision and laning for cyclists."
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: “As the speed limit has temporarily dropped to 30 mph, there is good logic to allow cyclists on the ring road.
“But as it is such a busy road in Wolverhampton, should traffic get back to pre-lockdown levels it might not be a pleasant experience to ride on.
“In the meantime, while we are exercising social distance when out and about, drivers should replicate this when overtaking cyclists and allow them as much room as possible.”
