Council has been encouraged by the number of submissions to a plan that proposes reducing speeds around urban schools to 30km/h, but says the whole community needs to be on board for the safety measures to work.

Feedback is being sought on a draft interim speed management plan, which aims to reduce speed outside schools as part of a national programme, and Council also wants to manage speeds on the edges of towns where populations have increased, and in areas with a high number of pedestrians and cyclists.

Infrastructure Services Group Manager Neil McCann encouraged people to take a look at the 21 maps where it was proposed to permanently drop the speed limit outside urban schools to 30km/h.

“If adopted, it would mean parts of Walnut Avenue, outside Ashburton College, would be 30km/h, as well as parts of Creek Road, Middle Road and Belt Road. This would be a permanent speed limit in place at all times.

“The 30km/h speed limits are proposed around other urban schools where there are walking and cycling facilities, and 60 km/h speed limits at rural schools where the majority of students get to and from school by vehicle, so we want people to take a look and see what they think. We are asking all residents and parents of children at those schools, people who live by schools, and those who travel past schools to be part of the feedback.”

Mr McCann said slower speeds outside schools had been something the community had asked for previously and a recent change to Ministry of Transport rules meant Council could now do it. Over 40 submissions have already been received on the topic.

“It will make kids safer when travelling to school and give parents more confidence to allow their children to walk or cycle to school. Lower speeds may increase journey times by a minute or so, but they will also support safer travel and recreation for local residents outside of school times.”

Mr McCann said the Council was still committed to improving the condition of its roads, which was a separate issue to lowering speeds on some streets.

“We acknowledge there is a lot of maintenance to be done and we have budgeted $13.1m for our subsidised roading maintenance and renewal programme this year, with an additional $1.7m unsubsidised funding for rehabilitation of sections of sealed roads. However, the three key things we are proposing in this speed management plan are because of the activity at school and the surrounding environment rather than the roads themselves.”

Read the consultation document online here; submissions close at 5pm on Sunday 16 October.