One of the key factors in the success of the 20's Plenty campaign is the thousands of people around the country who are asking and working for lower speeds on their community roads.

Here we highlight a few of those local campaigns and the people leading them. These are currently for Chichester, York, Crewe, Worthing, Bristol, Farnhill and Oxford.

If you would like your local campaign featured then please contact us

20’s Plenty for Chichester Case Study (Jan 2011) by Sarah Sharp

Sarah Sharp began campaigning in Jan 2010 prompted by traffic volumes at her daughter's school. She established the ChiCycle campaign and publicly questioned the council on speed. This made front page news and was how Rod King of 20s Plenty for Us made contact.

A petition was begun in May 2010 aiming for 3,000 signatures to trigger a full County Council debate. 300 signatures were gained at the 22 September Carfree day when Sarah turfed a parking space. The 10:10 day was also used to ask supporters to get petition signatures – 10 each.

Sarah set up Chichester Cycling Forum and has a long email supporter list (and a few active members). Plus £105 from the launch attended by the Mayor, District Council (though not W Sussex Highways) which had a talk about Portsmouth 20mph limits plus kids activities (60+ attendees). As the Cycling Officer is without budget, they invited the Head of Highways (Mr Julian Harris), who was “glib” about 20mph limits. Duncan Kay, a 20mph campaigner from Worthing, indirectly persuaded Mr Harris to promise a speed review. Chichester Cycle Forum Working Group tasks include asking people to write to councillors about 20’s Plenty for Us.

With membership secretary assistance, an updated Worthing powerpoint presentation on 20's Plenty for Us with Chichester data (from the council) was presented to the council, including detailed costings of 20 mph limits by street. In December 2010 Chichester City Council voted for 20 mph limits, but they do not have the funds to implement, which must come from West Sussex County Council.

The West Sussex Local Transport Plan 3 consultation report (Dec 10) included strong support for 20 mph limits.

The County Council’s position is “in West Sussex new housing developments often are designed with 20mph limits or zones and we encourage that. We have implemented 20mph limits and zones as part of traffic management schemes (e.g. in Chichester City centre) and we do implement 20mph limits and zones where they are appropriate and justified by a casualty reduction programme. However, WSCC currently do not commit funds to installing 20mph limits in their own right. We do recognise the potential value of such schemes but at present they are not a high priority for funding. “

An expert critique of the West Sussex County Council Speed Management Plan and an information campaign supported by Chichester City Council, perhaps jointly with 20’s Plenty for Worthing are possibly next for the campaign.

Sarah knows that 20mph isn’t just a cycling issue and is sometimes hampered by that association in that council officials ask her to direct enquiries through the Cycling Officer.

A public meeting with speakers including Rod King (20’s Plenty for Us Founder) is arranged for 16 March 2011. The location isn’t yet decided as there are several events taking place that evening. All are welcome.

See www.20splentyforchichester.org.uk to sign up to the online petition.

20s Plenty for York Case Study (Jan 2011) by Anna Semlyen

Anna Semlyen (now 20's Plenty for Us Campaign Manager) began 20's Plenty for York in 2008. She is a long time campaigner, having chaired her first public meeting on speed in 1998 with York Cycle Campaign and is a traffic reduction author.

Anna’s street has a 20 mph limit with the help of local Fishergate grant (council money) - £500 for a resident consultation of 7 streets. (Previous home zone requests were refused due to car numbers). Green Councillors door knocked to raise a petition. The grant paid for a guide accompanying letters asking resident’s opinion. 49% of residents voted, 70.5% wanted 20mph and signs went in Nov 2009. It took 2.5 years and 18 months from the full council meeting agreement for this small ‘pilot’.

Local 20 mph champion Cath Heinemeyer won £500 of ward funding. Rather than a petition, she posted letters through neighbour’s doors with reply slips. With hundreds of positive responses, and Labour Councillors backing the Hollybank Road area of Holgate is agreed as 20 mph.

£50 has gone on campaign materials (funded by York in Transition) and £125 from Cooperative Membership A presentation was made to the Safe Routes to Schools Ad Hoc Scrutiny meeting and we’ve met the police. MP Hugh Bayley is supportive.

Autumn 2010 saw a public consultation “Time for 20mph limits for York?”  76% of people supported 20 mph limits.

After years of blocking by Lib Dems, local elections in May 2011 gave Labour power.   

20 mph limits for residential areas is now policy. Cllr Dave Merrett’s written replies in Full Council on 30 June 2011

"Delivery of 20 mph limits - A policy and implementation report will be presented to the Cabinet Member for city Strategy Decision Session in October. A report enabling the advance delivery of pilot areas will be submitted to the July Decision Session. The current expectation is that the policy will be delivered in phases with the first areas implemented in 2011/12"

There is a committee, bank account, email list, website and facebook page.

20's Plenty for York is at www.20splentyforyork.org.uk  anna.s@20splentyforus.org.uk

20’s Plenty for Crewe (Justice for Jack) Case Study (Jan 2011) by Claire Clulow

Claire and Joe Clulow’s son Jack’s leg was broken in a road crash when he was 4. Jack used a wheelchair, was in plaster for 8 ½ weeks and off school for 5 weeks. Jack continues to have difficulty walking. His injuries motivated Claire to set up a petition to Cheshire East Council to introduce a 20 mph speed limit on Crewe’s residential roads.

Crewe Chronicle ran the 20's Plenty article in June 2010 and the campaign gained local MP Edward Timpson’s support. He contacted the DfT and the Highways Dept of Cheshire East Council.  Cheshire East replied that they would investigate the dangers of the road on which Jack's accident happened and consider a petition for a council debate. 

There is a petition on the 20's Plenty For Crewe website www.20splentyforcrewe.org.uk. People are urged to go online and sign.  There is a facebook (Justice for Jack) page with over 370 fans.

A public meeting was held in July 2010 at a school. Fewer came than Claire would have liked, but publicity was perhaps not wide enough. Rachel Bailey, Safer and Stronger Communities portfolio holder for Cheshire East gave apologies and offered to attend in future.  

A 'Design A Poster' for 20's Plenty For Crewe colouring competition took place at Underwood West during Road Safety Week in Nov 2010 alongside the Brake campaign.  £5 WH Smith vouchers were given to 3 children. Anna Brookes (a Children’s Centre worker) and Nina Hammill have certificates as 20's Plenty Champions.

The next stage is to submit the petition to Councillor Steve Wilkinson of Cheshire East Council (Conservative).

crewe@20splentyforus.org.uk  claireclulow@yahoo.com; www.20splentyforcrewe.org.uk

Justice For Jack Facebook Group - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=117040858325243

20’s Plenty for Worthing Case Study (Jan 2012) by Duncan Kay

Duncan Kay grew up in Worthing, cycling 1½ miles to school. Now married, he returned in 2008. Worthing is a “great town for cycling and walking as it is flat”, but he was “saddened by the huge growth in traffic and congestion”. Duncan wants his two children to walk and cycle to school safely.

Duncan, a sustainable transport professional, believes that 20mph limits where people live are the key to increasing walking, cycling and quality of life. He learnt of the 20's Plenty For Us campaign and requested casualty statistics from his local authority, West Sussex County Council. He was shocked that cyclists and pedestrians account for about two thirds of all deaths and serious injuries. West Sussex County Council's own survey found 73% of respondents want to walk and/or cycle more and 65% would like to reduce their car use. But 66% felt that speeding in town/housing areas is a problem and many said 'roads are too dangerous to consider walking and/or cycling'.

Duncan presented the 20mph case to Worthing Cycle Forum in 2009. Positive feedback encouraged him to start a campaign. He’s presented to schools, residents associations, youth and community groups, as well as Worthing Borough Council, and County Local Committee. Campaigners have collected over 700 signatures and delivered leaflets to almost 200 roads.

In October 2010, the Borough Council voted unanimously for 20mph residential speed limits with cross-party support and the Lib-Dems made 20's Plenty for Worthing one of their top policy priorities (they had already had many speeding complaints for residential roads).

As Highways are controlled by the County Council, the Lib-Dem Borough Councillor who is also a County Councillor and sits as Chair of Worthing's County Local Committee (CLC) then put forward a motion for 20's Plenty for Worthing at a West Sussex County Council meeting in July 2011.  It passed. The County Council will support Worthing CLC in progressing 20's Plenty provided it was funded by Worthing (and with an amendment that there must be 'majority public support' - though it was unclear how this would be demonstrated!). County Council officers worked with Worthing CLC and prepared a report estimating costs and a suggested implementation strategy.  Worthing CLC has sufficient funds available for 'Infrastructure priorities' from Section 106 funds.

On 25th January 2012, Worthing CLC voted to progress to a full public consultation on the implementation of 20mph speed limits for all residential roads.

www.20splentyforworthing.org.uk  20splentyforworthing@gmail.com

20’s Plenty for Bristol Case Study (Sept 2010) by Steve Kinsella

For several months Bristol has had one 20mph area - Southville to the south. Easton, east of the centre, will have signs soon. Though "pilots" for small parts of the city, the Lib Dems promise to extend 20mph to the rest of Bristol. It’s been a successful campaign as, in 2008, under the previous administration officers did not support 20mph..

Steve Kinsella started 20’s Plenty for Bristol in 2008 with Rod King speaking at its launch. Initially it was hoped to get "20mph Champions" citywide. 34 joined and although not citywide, the recruitment publicity raised awareness and led to pockets of campaigning. Several petitions were presented to the council. The main turning point was transfer to a Liberal Democrat majority, when Dr Jon Rogers, an outspoken advocate of 20mph and campaign supporter, became Executive Councillor for Transport.

20s Plenty for Bristol were delighted to win the "Total 20" battle. Cllr Rogers rejected transport officers' initial plans for 20mph areas maintaining through roads at 30mph or higher, leaving 20mph for tiny streets with pre-existing low average speeds. Backed by campaigners, Dr Rogers persuaded officers to make a number of major roads 20mph in the two areas, thereby saving signage and costs.

Steve doubts that pilots will make a dramatic difference to average speeds. They had existing low speeds due to the majority type of streets, and there is no police enforcement. But this won't matter - the less waves made by these pilots, the easier the path to extend 20mph to the rest of the city.

The 20s Plenty for Bristol website is no longer in use. Contact is Steve Kinsella sjkinsella@cycle4000.wanadoo.co.uk

20s Plenty for Farnhill (Oct 2010) Case Study by Helen Law

Helen Law in Farnhill is launching a wheelie bin sticker campaign, hoping it will generate interest in other North Yorkshire villages with similar problems. Farnhill Parish Council are paying £100 towards the purchase of stickers. At monthly Parish Council meetings Helen offers updates on the 20s Plenty for Farnhill campaign. 

Helen’s local MP for Skipton and Ripon, Julian Smith, is very supportive of a 20mph zone in Farnhill and promises to write to the Transport Minister. The Craven Herald sent their reporter and photographer to take some pictures of Julian and Helen plus the stickered wheelie bins.  There have been several 20mph pieces in the local press.

Patrick Mulligan, the County Counsellor for Airedale and Lotherdale Ward in which Farnhill is included is supportive. He was very helpful on the outset and set up a meeting a year ago with Highways in Skipton, when campaigners handed in a petition signed by almost the entire village.  Sadly that doesn't seem to have carried much weight.

Helen has written to Northallerton - John Fort - on the County Council, but with no joy yet.    Unless the new government force them to change North Yorkshire’s policies, Helen is afraid that the County Council will keep things as they are.

Helen Law is at lawhelen59@yahoo.co.uk

Life Begins at 20 in Oxford – a 20s Plenty for Us Case Study (Sept 2010) by Paul Cullen

Oxford had one 20mph zone when the fight for 20mph began in earnest. It inspired more campaigning following bitter disappointment that, despite full submissions to Local Transport Plan 2 consultations, pedestrian and cycling viewpoints were ignored.

Campaigners participated in a 20’s Plenty Action Day with Transport 2000 (now CBT) which found drivers wanted 20mph. Local television covered it and when Transport 2000 decided not to run further 20’s Plenty Days, campaigners had enough momentum to continue.

Life Begins at 20 was chosen as a positive slogan, not ‘in the face’ of drivers. Instead of ‘transport’, its focus is re-humanising streets where people grow up and grow old.  It is separate from, but supported by, pedestrian and cycling groups whose arguments could be strengthened by making them jointly. Both put in £50. Lobbyists for ‘people-oriented streets’ joined and several city and county councillors were on board.

Publicity included a web site with cohesive arguments for 20mph streets. ‘A 20mph Oxford – Why and How’ leaflet was printed thanks to a supporter’s gift.  Copies were sent to councillors on both councils and others.

Letters to newspapers encouraged people to make contact. At a local street party, Life Begins at 20 was launched by the Mayor, with great press photography of kids with their bikes, holding Life Begins at 20 placards. Without a national 20’s Plenty Action Day, Oxford held their own.  A3 Life Begins at 20 posters were displayed in the streets. Petition signatures were collected whenever supporter groups held a stall.

MPs expressed support and activists did local radio chat shows. National 20mph interest increased with Portsmouth leading the way.  Lobbying of county councillors and officers intensified.  With a ‘respectable’ number of petition signatures, the county council agreed to receive it, and with an MP, it was presented with a press photo and articles.

Yearly 20’s Plenty events featured ‘gimmicks’ to catch attention. One person created a dummy cardboard speed camera for his front garden. A ‘portable’ zebra crossing was rolled out, with local children photographed, and then taken to another street. A speed gun was pointed at speeding drivers whilst holding 20’s Plenty placards.  The opposition reacted and press did ‘For’ and ‘Against’ columns.

Round the table conversations with County road safety officers began, who were sceptical at first.  Activists knew they were winning when the councillor for highways attended, not with a road safety officer, but a planner.

The County consulted on a 20mph scheme for Oxford, and found public support. Thanks to the next Mayor’s influence city councillors unanimously supported 20mph ‘where people live’. This was key.

Life Begins at 20 were disappointed that major bus routes were excluded, which remains an issue. A present concern is policing. Some professional drivers – cabs, vans, buses – ignore the signs. The community has chosen 20mph but police appear to be turning a blind eye to daily crimes against the community on Oxford’s streets by drivers who should know better.

Life Begins at 20 has come a long way. When the time is right the campaign will re-awaken. The scheme’s recent first anniversary produced plenty of material in the local press.

Another change is that for Local Transport Plan 3 the county has listened seriously to arguments for sustainable, safe travel. That’s progress!

Oxford Pedestrians Association oxpa.org.uk

Oxford Cycle Campaign Cyclox's  cyclox.org

Paul Cullen 

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Note that Paul sadly died in May, 2011. Our condolences go out to his family. Paul was a real inspiration to me and the whole 20's Plenty movement. His legacy is a safer and better Oxford which is being increasing matched in towns and villages around the country.

Rod King

Limpley Stoke Village 20’s Plenty for Us Case Study (Dec 2010)

The '20’s Plenty for Limpley Stoke' village' campaign, started by Bil Bailey, has successfully persuaded Wiltshire Council to implement a 20 mph trial in 6 Wiltshire villlages, using additional 'light touch measures' to encourage willing driver compliance. These improvements are well-received by the community and initially include upper Church Lane, Crowe Hill, Middle Stoke, Woods Hill and Lower Stoke and a permanent speed limit change to 30mph on upper Church Lane and upper Crowe Lane.  Other agreed measures - the '20mph' limit signage and village gateway structures  - are awaited shortly.

Bill said an effective 'lever' to this step in the right direction has been a 'wheelie bins stickers' campaign, now adopted by several neighbouring communities. This had a most salutory effect on local politicians and he is weekly contacted by one village/parish or another seeking to know where to get these '20s Plenty Where People Live' stickers (now available from 20’s Plenty for Us here )

For further details please email us at info@20splentyforus.org.uk or see our contact details here