Are new 20mph zones a 'no-brainer' or a 'rip-off'?

Katherine Terris said local people welcomed the plans to lower the speed limit in the Stoke area of Plymouth to 20mph

Opinion is divided over the introduction of more 20mph (32km/h) speed limit zones in Plymouth.

The city council said earlier this month plans to lower the speed limit in the areas of Stoke and Stonehouse had been given the green light to help improve safety.

However, a consultation on the proposal produced a near 50-50 split in public opinion with 166 in favour and 163 against.

Some accused the local authority of trying to make money by catching speeding drivers - something it has denied - but others said the plans were a "no-brainer".

Roads in Stoke (marked in blue) will be lowered to 20mph in April, while the roads in Stonehouse (in red) will have their limit lowered within the next two years

Under the plan, roads in Stoke would be lowered to 20mph in April, while the roads in Stonehouse would see lower speeds within the next two years.

In May 2022, the council lowered the speed limit on Old Laira Road to 20mph.

Council bosses said since then, police had reported fewer crashes along the road, with none in the area over the last two years.

However, many motorists have criticised the lower limit in Laira - a camera caught more than 23,500 drivers going over the limit over eight weeks during a trial period.

Chris Hockaday said lowering the limit to 20mph was a "rip-off"

Chris Hockaday said he strongly disagreed with the new limit coming into Stoke and Stonehouse.

Mr Hockaday, who often travels into Stoke and Stonehouse, said the limit on Old Laira Road had been a nuisance.

"I don't want to speed anywhere, but I want to keep on moving," he said.

"We've all suffered from Old Laira Road and the 20mph zone there.

"It's rip-off Britain and it's brought into penalise people to increase funds."

Roger Smith said the lower limit would be a "pain in the bum"

Another motorist who was against the plans for Stoke and Stonehouse was Roger Smith.

"I don't think it's going to make much difference," he said.

"But it's a pain in the bum because they've got speed cameras everywhere so it's not like you can go over the limit anyway.

"So the council putting the limit down to 20mph is ridiculous and will cause more traffic."

Simon Alston does not understand why motorists would struggle to do 20mph

Simon Alston, who lives on Molesworth Road, one of the streets in Stoke being lowered to 20mph, said he thought it was a good idea overall.

"People are saying it's so difficult to keep to the speed limit, but you've got a speedometer and you manage at 30mph," he said.

"It's a no-brainer, especially around here because there's a lot of cars parked on the main road.

"There's no problem with 20mph, I don't know what the beef is."

Hair salon owner Kevin Keegan said he had seen motorists driving at "crazy speeds"

Katherine Terris, who lives on Wilton Street, also in the new 20mph zone in Stoke, similarly welcomed the plans.

She said it would make people living in the areas, particularly parents and pupils travelling to local schools, feel safer.

"I think the people I've spoken to who live outside of the area aren't as pleased because they're the ones often commuting through here," she said.

"But it is definitely welcomed by the residents."

Lisa Steggle said she thought more areas should have their speed limit lowered to 20mph

Kevin Keegan, owner of Iceni Hair, also on Wilton Street, said: "The traffic up and down here during the rush hours is heavy.

"Sometimes motorists go way too quick, doing crazy speeds along here at times."

Lisa Steggle, owner of Robyn's Hair on Molesworth Road, said a lot of her customers had spoken about the plans and their opinion was "50-50".

"The local people want it, but people who are visiting say it's going to be a bit of a pain," she said.

"But I don't think it is and there should be more places like it with 20mph limits."

Safety 'number one focus'

Councillor Mark Coker, cabinet member for transport, said the authority did not receive any money from speeding fines.

He said safety, especially for local children, was the main priority of the scheme.

"We have decided that the safety of children travelling to and from school has to our number one focus," he said.

"None of the negative arguments in the consultation were more important than the safety of our youngest residents."