Local leaders have responded critically to reports that the Government is set to restrict the ability of councils to impose 20mph speed limits on main roads.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a new ‘plan for the motorist’ at the Conservative Party conference on Monday.
The move will reportedly include restrictions on council plans to cut local speed limits to 20mph and limits to the ability of local authorities to impose fines linked to box junction cameras and automatic number plate recognition cameras.
Responding to the reports, Christopher Hammond, chief executive of the cross-party network of local leaders committed to net zero and clean air, UK100, accused the Government of ‘stepping on local leaders’.
He said: ‘Nobody wants a free-for-all on our streets. Local authorities know their towns and cities best. Residents trust them more than Whitehall to work with communities to tailor the policies needed to clean up our air and make our streets safer.
‘Stepping on local leaders because the Government won't step up on net zero would be a mistake.'
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