20's Plenty for York

Anna Semlyen (20s Plenty for Us National Campaign Manager) began 20s Plenty for York in 2008. She chaired her first public meeting on speed in 1998 with York Cycle Campaign and is a traffic reduction author.

Anna’s street has a 20 mph limit with the help of local Fishergate grant (council money) - £500 for a resident consultation of 7 streets. (Previous home zone requests were refused due to car numbers). Green Councillors door knocked to raise a petition. The grant paid for a guide accompanying letters asking resident’s opinion. 49% of residents voted, 70.5% wanted 20mph and signs went in Nov 2009. It took 2.5 years and 18 months from the full council meeting agreement for this small ‘pilot’.

Due to the executive system, one man – Cllr Dave Merrett – decides transport issues. Labour support 20's Plenty for residential roads, See news page for latest

Pre20 mph limits is political with Lib Dem and Conservative against and Labour and Green pro. Greens actively fill petitions and got a South Bank 20 mph limit agreed. Greens ran a public meeting in February 2010 where Rod King (Founder of 20s Plenty for Us) visited. Both parties have it on their manifestos and petitions – approx. 90 are outstanding.
Local 20 mph champion Cath Heinemeyer won £500 of ward funding. Rather than a petition, she posted letters through neighbour’s doors with reply slips. With hundreds of positive responses, and Labour Councillors backing the Hollybank Road area of Holgate is agreed as 20 mph.

£175 has gone on campaign materials (funded by York in Transition and The Cooperative Membership). Ward funding bids are in (£250 from two wards) but we won’t get results till February. A presentation was made to the Safe Routes to Schools Ad Hoc Scrutiny meeting and we’ve met the police. MP Hugh Bayley is supportive.

Autumn saw a public consultation “Time for 20mph limits for York?” 687 responses from people collected by us went in as either “20mph for all residential roads or for all roads”.

There is a committee, bank account, email list, website and facebook page.

York Officers
Chair: Anna Semlyen anna.s@20splentyforus.org.uk
Officer: Louise Diver

20s Plenty for York www.20splentyforyork.org.uk