Hyde Street residents pressing for enforcement of 20mph speed limit

People in Hyde in Winchester are unhappy that little action has been done to enforce the 20mph limit in Hyde Street.

Deidre Wood, of Hyde Street, told the town forum that people had set up a WhatsApp group called FLAG, Flashing Lights Action Group, to press for speed detection devices.

She said: "I raised the issue at the town forum in June 2023 and 17 months on the situation is essentially the same. Twenty miles per hour is not an arbitrary line to frustrate drivers but for better traffic flow. There are better health outcomes by slowing traffic to create less pollution."

READ MORE HERE: Call for 20mph speed limit across the city

There are calls to enforce the limit (Image: Google) Town forum vice chairman James Batho, a member of Speedwatch, said speeding on Hyde Street, North Walls and Stanmore Lane was significant. "It is not something we have forgotten. We would like to respond to the issues you have."

Cllr Kelsie Learney, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, said the city council was pressing the county council to take more action. They have recently met the county council leader Nick Adams-King and said he was sympathetic.

City council leader Martin Tod repeated his view that there was a need for 20mph limits across Winchester rather than the uncertainty of 20 limits on one road and 30 on another. "We want to create a norm where more people are walking or cycling and less compelled to use their car, to create an environment where 20mph has more traction."

Forum chairman Cllr Mark Reach said there were still roads in Winchester with a 40mph limit. "St Cross Road is 40mph which is absurd in this day and age."