MEMBERS of the Green party in Ludlow say that they are outraged by the decision of Shropshire Council not to introduce a universal 20mph speed limit in towns throughout the county.

“The rejection of 20mph by a majority of Shropshire’s councillors is a major failure of public policy that deprives Shropshire’s pedestrians and cyclists of a huge increase in safety by reducing the risk of collision and reducing the risk of severe injury if an accident does occur,” said Hilary Wendt, the co-ordinator to the Green Party in Shropshire and the unsuccessful Green party candidate for Ludlow in the general election last month.

“Additionally, adopting a 20mph limits is a major public health intervention that increases walking and cycling and is recommended by the World Health Organisation as a ‘must-do’ intervention to reduce obesity, cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. 20mph has further health benefits through reducing air pollution and carbon emissions, along with loneliness via the greater possibilities for social interaction.

This rejection accepts a totally unacceptable level of risk in the road traffic environment, and one that abandons the basic principles of child protection, according to the Green party.

They say that statistics show that a person struck by a vehicle travelling at 20mph is seven times more likely to survive than if they are hit by one travelling at 30mph.

A 20mph speed on residential roads is now widely accepted and is in place in over 50 councils in this country in which 15 million people live, according to the Green party.

They say a 20mph limit is supported by public bodies and public health professionals including: The House of Commons Select Committee on Transport, the World Health Organisation, the National Association of Directors of Public Health, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, Public Health England and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.