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Ilkley: Hundreds attend meeting over 20mph proposals for town

BBC/Charles Heslett Ilkley meetingBBC/Charles Heslett
Hundreds of people attended the meeting in Ilkley on Tuesday evening with some viewing through windows

Dozens of people had to stand outside and peer through windows as plans to make a town's roads all 20mph and install more than 140 speed bumps were discussed.

The extraordinary general meeting of Ilkley Town Council on Tuesday night was packed with hundreds of residents.

The motion was finally passed when the town's mayor backed the Bradford Council scheme with his casting vote.

A campaigner said he was "shocked" at the decision.

Andrew Cunliffe criticised the council for not going "to any public consultation" on the measures.

Mr Cunliffe, who is a member of the Ilkley Road Safety Action Group (IRSAG), said there was "clear opposition from the public audience here at the hall" to plans.

The scheme, which saw backers and detractors speak at the meeting, is backed by Bradford Council which has said reducing speed limits in built-up areas would make them "safer and more pleasant".

Opponents said that restrictions should only be introduced outside school and other "danger areas".

BBC/Tom Ingall Ilkley meeting with hundreds of peopleBBC/Tom Ingall
Speeches for and against the proposed measures were heard at the meeting

James Stretton, from IRSAG, said after the meeting that the group was not against 20mph limits or speed bumps.

"We want a targeted approach where they're required in the danger zones in town, which are fairly easy to identify and not this blanket or scattergun approach which is being adopted in the current proposals," he said.

The town's mayor, Karl Milner, said he was "really pleased" at the outcome of the meeting

"I am pretty sure that there are people who are going to go away unhappy, but I am also absolutely sure there are people who will go away completely content with what we've decided this evening," he said.

"I am absolutely sure we have come to the right decisions this evening."

The vote means the town council supports the implementation of the blanket 20mph limit and speed bumps.

It will now pass back to Bradford Council to start further planning work for the scheme.

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