Scheme altered following feedback from 558 individuals
There have been some changes to the proposed new 20mph zones in Douglas and Onchan following a consultation.
Earlier this year, people were invited to give their view ahead of the scheme being rolled out in residential areas.
There were nearly 1500 responses to the Department of Infrastructure from 558 individuals or households.
'Final Plan'
The DOI says those responses have now been analysed by an experienced third-party company, and a final plan put together, drawing on the comments made.
As a result, Groves Road and Tromode Road in Douglas will remain at 30mph. So too will the section of Victoria Road from Glencrutchery Road to Victoria Crescent.
Meanwhile, a section of Whitebridge Road in Onchan, from Windermere Drive to Main Road - which was due to remain at 30mph - is now included in the roads that will become 20mph.
Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood explains why these changes have been made:
What happens next?
Starting today (11 November), people are being invited to comment on the proposals whilst a permanent Traffic Regulation Order is advertised until 28 November.
Any additional comments will then be assessed and the TRO will be made by the minister and come into operation.
The new speed limit signs will then be installed in Douglas and Onchan.
Why 20mph?
Tynwald first supported the principle for 20mph speed limits on residential roads in 2020. That support was renewed in 2023.
However, over the past year, as the plans started to take shape - with new signposts placed in the ground and maps published - there was a strong reaction on the Isle of Man.
It became one of the main talking points of government's roadshow events, the subject of a Tynwald Day petition, and there were calls to scrap the scheme altogether.
The Department of Infrastructure says the proposed 20mph speed limits aim to:
- Support healthier lifestyles by making walking and cycling feel safer and more appealing
- Foster more inclusive and people-friendly streets, where shared space benefits all road users and residents
- Improve road safety, reducing the risk and severity of collisions for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists
- Encourage considerate driving by creating an environment where slower speeds are the norm
- Reduce noise and air pollution, contributing to a cleaner, quieter environment
Separate consultations
The 20mph consultation has a dedicated website and the Minister and DoI officers have held a series of meetings, both with the public and Local Authorities to explain the policy and hear feedback directly from residents.
Separate consultations for the north and centre of the Island have also ended. Government says the results of those consultations will be published in due course.
The consultation for the south of the Island is currently underway.
You can listen to the full interview with Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood via the Manx Radio Newscast below:
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