Council begins rollout of 20mph zones

Five Borders communities have today become the first to have 20mph signage installed as part of Scottish Borders Council’s Spaces for People trial.
Ross Murphy, a member of Stow Community Council and Grace Murray of Stow Community Trust celebrate the introduction of the village's 20mph speed limit today.Ross Murphy, a member of Stow Community Council and Grace Murray of Stow Community Trust celebrate the introduction of the village's 20mph speed limit today.
Ross Murphy, a member of Stow Community Council and Grace Murray of Stow Community Trust celebrate the introduction of the village's 20mph speed limit today.

The 20mph speed limit is now in place in Coldingham, Eddleston, Newcastleton, Sprouston and Stow.

And later this week, this trial will begin in Heriot, Fountainhall, Clovenfords and Newtown St Boswells; and in Berwickshire, it will be implemented in St Abbs, Reston, Cockburnspath, Cove, Grantshouse, Ayton and Eyemouth.

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A total of 91 villages and towns will see their streets move to a 20mph limit by the end of this year, as part of the 18-month pilot.

The trial received funding worth £1.2million from the Spaces for People programme, which is funded by the Scottish Government and managed by Sustrans Scotland.

The idea is to make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle for everyday journeys during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Some 60mph stretches of road are also being changed to 40mph in the trial, and some road closures and one-way systems are also currently being implemented.

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The scheme was approved by councillors in August, and a report will be brought back to council in 12 months, with suggestions on which schemes to retain or remove.

The remaining six months of the trial will be used to implement any permanent changes.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, SBC’s executive member for infrastructure, travel and transport, said: “I am pleased that the Spaces for People 20mph trial is now under way and has been well received in the first communities to see the signage installed.

“We also understand some people may have some reservations, but this is a trial which we believe has the potential to help our communities lead healthier lifestyles, which is why we wanted to work with Sustrans Scotland to try out these new measures.

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“We will continue to provide advanced notification of when communities will see their signage changed to 20mph and are regularly updating our timetable at www.scotborders.gov.uk/20mph

“We will also be asking the public for feedback in 2021 once the signage is in place across all Borders communities.”

Ross Murphy, a member of Stow Community Council, said: “I am delighted that after a number of years of campaigning we now have a 20mph trial in place which we believe will help Stow become a better environment for children, pedestrians and cyclists to move around and stay active.”

Grace Murray of Stow Community Trust added: “It is fantastic to see Stow become one of the first communities in the Borders to take part in the 20mph trial.

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“A lot of people from across Stow are positive about the trial and we are very hopeful it will lead to less use of cars and more active travel.”

All the Spaces for People schemes have taken on board comments from the public as part of a consultation which ran in June and early July.

The 20mph trial will see an academic evaluation carried out by a Scottish university, which will show which of these temporary measures were successful and which were not.

More information is available at www.scotborders.gov.uk/20mph.