Better watch our speed

 20’s Plenty for Us Press Release 11 Oct 2013

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) have toughened up guidance on enforcing 20mph limits.  Speed offences where people live will not be tolerated.  Better enforcement both increases compliance and the safety of the UK’s streets.

ACPO have issued new guidance to forces on how to police 20mph roads (see http://www.acpo.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/ACPO-marks-refreshing-of-speed-enforcement-guidance-26e.aspx).   This comes in response to the dramatically increasing number of places democratically agreeing wide area 20mph limits plus requests from Transport Ministers, the Get Britain Cycling Enquiry and many campaigners.

Officers could soon hand out a speeding ticket and three points or offer drivers an education course and therefore avoid points on the licence. Motorists caught driving between 24mph and 31mph would be offered the speed awareness course or a fixed penalty notice fine.  Up to 34mph, they could be fined, and if they were speeding at 35mph or more they would be reported to the courts.

Already over 12m people live in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and the City of London where 20mph limits will cover the majority of roads.

Founder of 20’s Plenty for Us, Rod King MBE, commented :-

“This is very timely. Many of our cities are rejecting the 30mph limits for most roads in favour of a life-enhancing 20mph limit that is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Whilst compliance comes from people understanding the benefits that come when we all drive below 20, the police play an important role in endorsing that through enforcement. Good policing comes from responding to communities and elected representative wishes and the overwhelming number of those want the police to play an active role in making those communities safer, more liveable and secure.”

20’s Plenty for Us National Campaign Manager Anna Semlyen said

“ 20mph limits are law.  Bad drivers can and should be made accountable for their actions. Speeding is anti-social, incredibly dangerous and warrants dealing with strictly. Tougher local roads policing is good news for everyone, especially the young and vulnerable.”

Our ‘Time for 20’ initiative asks the Department for Transport to allow authorities to sign exceptions to 20mph limits which cuts the cost of implementing 20mph limits by up to 50%.  http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/its_time_for_20.htm

Our 209 20’s Plenty for Us campaign branches are at http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/local_campaigns.htm

Our 36 Briefing Sheets on 20mph limits are at http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/briefings.htm

See this press release at http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/Press_Releases/Police_Toughen_20mph_Limit_Enforcement_Guidance.pdf

20’s Plenty For Us campaigns for a 20mph default speed limit in residential streets without physical calming.  Web www.20splentyforus.org.uk  Twitter @20splentyforus

For more information contact

Anna Semlyen 20’s Plenty for Us Campaign Manager anna.s@20splentyforus.org.uk 07572 120439

Thank you

Instead of standing up for hardworking people the last Labour Government, of which Ed Miliband and Ed Balls were senior members, fought bitterly amongst themselves and let the British people down. They left Britain with a deficit of over £150 billion, increased unemployment, a broken welfare system and uncontrolled, mass immigration.

We are firmly on the side of hardworking people and we are clearing up the mess that Labour left behind. There is a long way still to go, but in less than three and a half years: the deficit has been cut by a third; businesses have created 1.4 million new private sector jobs; benefits have been capped and net immigration has been cut by a third. We will continue to strive to make our country great again with your help.

LIB DEMs

Lib Dem poll suggests 75% of voters reject party, No surprise there. 

Prospective Kingston Conservative Councillors Meet Michael Gove 2nd Sept

Prospective Kingston Conservative Councillors Meet Michael Gove

Prospective Conservative Council Candidates for the 2014 local elections met with the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove tackling issues that are of concern to residents across the Borough.

Local candidates spoke to the Secretary of State about issues concerning the new North Kingston Free School, early years education and student career advice.  The Secretary of State agreed to take on board the views of local conservative prospective candidates.

New Malden Councillor Ken Smith, who organised the meeting said "I was delighted that Michael Gove took time out to meet with our young prospective councillors in Kingston.  Our schools and their standards are of core concern to parents across the Borough and we were very pleased to champion the issues that matter so much to residents."

Planning in our County side

PLANNING

Wind farm warning

The Liberal Democrats have suggested that some countryside councils which block wind farms deserve to be sued by developers. In a policy paper, the Liberal Democrats attack Conservative councils which have registered their opposition to wind farms and the party claims that only 10% of the UK population are consistently opposed to turbines. The policy document states: "Liberal Democrats would support developers who seek punitive damages against councils who do not follow National Policy Guidelines in determining consents. For example, many (particularly Conservative) councils have adopted criteria (such as minimum separation distances from dwellings), in contravention of government planning policy." Peter Luff, the Conservative MP for Mid Worcestershire, who last year tried to bring in laws stopping wind farms being built less than 2 km from housing, said: "It’s an extraordinary position. The Lib Dems aren’t going to win many friends in rural constituencies."

When will the lib Dems learn a very important principle of Law, That guidelines are just that, not Law. 

As  once stated by the highest judge in the land.

Thetford Road

I would like to thank Chris and Elspeth  for organising a Petition about the state of the Pavements and potholes in Thetford Road.
It was nice working with them knocking on doors and meeting residents some of whom I had already met.
We will keep you updated on its progress.  

Theft Warning

St James Safer Neighbourhood Team

There has been a spate of high value bike thefts across the Borough. 

Please make sure your bikes are locked.

• Always lock your bike up even if left unattended for a few minutes.
• Keep your bike out of view, possibly in a shed, garage or indoors. 
• Use a good lock on your shed 
• Think about the use of one way screws for the hinges on shed doors. 
• Secure it to an immovable object or consider installing a floor or wall mounted anchor lock for extra security. 
• Another tip is to remove the saddle or wheel when locked up.

Please visit http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/Kingston to check for any bike marking events. We appreciate these things take time when people have busy lives but it’s these little acts that could prevent a theft from occurring. 

Feel free to contact us if you have any or wish to know any further information.

Emergency Number; 999

Non Emergency Number; 101

St James SNT office; 0208 7212595

St James SNT email; Stjames.SNT@met.police.uk