Brummies consulted on plans to cut 40mph limits

Birmingham could reduce almost all of its 40mph speed limits after a “road safety emergency” was declared following a spate of deaths.

The city council launched a public consultation on Tuesday over proposals to cut maximum speeds to 30mph on several major roads.

The local authority also ran a consultation on the issue last year, and just over 55% of respondents opposed cutting the limits.

Councillor Majid Mahmood, the city council’s transport boss, has fast-tracked the proposals after the council declared the emergency over the summer, according to consultation documents.

The new consultation runs until 10 December, and people can submit responses online.

In July, protestors had called on the city's leaders to declare a state of emergency over its roads.

Under the proposals, 25 roads would have a 40mph limit cut to 30mph, including sections of the A38 Bristol Road South, the A45 Coventry Road, and the A452 Chester Road.

In last year’s consultation, 56.7% of people who took part said they opposed the 30mph limits, while 37.9% supported them, and the remaining respondents were neutral.

But a decision has been made to proceed with a new consultation, noting that around a quarter of those who did not support the scheme were not necessarily against the proposals but were concerned about inadequate levels of enforcement.

The council said the costs for the project, if it was approved, would come from surplus income from the Clean Air Zone (CAZ). It added that this funding was ringfenced for transport schemes only.

The local authority said changes to the highway, mainly changing and removing signs, would take place early in 2025, subject to approval of this order.

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