A report which details how Dorset Council should deal with requests for 20mph speed zones is to be discussed. 

The "20mph speed limit approach" report will be heard before the Place and Resources overview committee this Thursday - and is recommended for approval. 

If approved, the plans would then be sent to Dorset Council's cabinet for a final decision.

As it stands, the Department for Transport is encouraging highway authorities to introduce 20mph limits in urban areas and village streets where “there are or – could be – significant numbers of journeys on, foot where pedal cycle movements are an important consideration, and this outweighs the disadvantage of longer journey times for motorised traffic.”

A report outlining the principles and impact of implementing such a policy across the Dorset Council area has been submitted for consideration.

There have been two previous committee hearings on the subject, the first on December 17 2020 and the second on the April 21 2022.

Councillor Jon Orrell, Green Party councillor for Melcombe Regis, said the implementation of the policy would be a "big win" for the county.

He said: "It would promote more considerate driving on residential roads and, environmentally, help promote more sustainable modes of transport. People are more likely to consider cycling to places if they feel it is a safer option.

"The problem we've had in the past is pushing forward in bits and pieces - really we want to have much more determination in pushing the policy forward. It would certainly make it a lot easier for motorists to deal with a common set of rules across the county."

In the past, Dorset Council has said they support the policy "in principle" but that it would not be practical to enforce a blanket 20mph speed limit across all proposed sites.

In Dorset Council's supporting '20mph Policy' document, they say communities considering a 20mph scheme as part of the town/parish council funded schemes are required to establish a Community Speed Watch.

CSW will be used as a way of gaining evidence of existing speeds and encouraging improved compliance with the speed limit.

The document says: "An active CSW team must be in place for at least 12 months. This is to demonstrate a clear commitment from within the community. If, after 12 months there is still a wish to request a 20mph scheme the town or parish council should be able to demonstrate wide community support for the proposed 20mph scheme.

"This can be achieved by carrying out a survey of residents. A threshold level of support of 60% from the respondents of households affected by the proposed 20mph scheme is required."

The Agenda Document for the committee hearing list the recommendation as "to support the policy and recommend it to Cabinet for approval."

*This article has been updated. 

We were asked to make some points clear following an article in Tuesday’s Dorset Echo and on our website about 20mph zones.

The Dorset Council report the article was based on sets out the standard approach the council will take when it is asked to consider supporting the implementation of a 20mph zone. It does not indicate wider support for (or opposition to) such proposals.

Therefore a headline accompanying the online article and the first paragraph both online and in the print edition were incorrect in that they suggested there were active proposals for specific 20mph speed limitations being considered for approval.

Dorset Council would like to stress that the adoption of these new measures won’t necessarily make the introduction of new 20mph zones any more or less likely – just that the council will have a consistent approach to how it deals with such requests.

We are happy to clarify these points