ROADS around Helensburgh and Lomond are set to be the first trial area of Argyll and Bute for a project to introduce 20mph speed limits.
A report has said that a decision is now due on whether to implement restrictions as part of Project 20, which is the Scottish Government’s scheme to introduce the speed limit in Scotland.
Argyll and Bute Council officials have met with community councils and elected members for Helensburgh and Lomond on temporary traffic regulation orders (TTROs) for proposed new speed restrictions.
The report does not contain any details of specific parts of Helensburgh and Lomond where TTROs would be applied. They would be implemented no earlier than April.
If these are considered successful over the planned six months, then permanent traffic regulation orders will be introduced.
The document will go before the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee at its meeting on Thursday, March 19.
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “The project is now moving forward and meetings within the Helensburgh and Lomond area, with both the local elected members and community councils, have taken place.
“Following this engagement, the speed restriction plans (20, 30 and 40mph) will be finalised alongside the schedules needed for the TTROs.
“Overlapping with this, the project will move on to one of the other administrative areas (location to be confirmed) to develop speed restriction plans and begin the engagement meetings.
“Prior to the implementation of the speed limit TTROs, it is proposed that the Project 20 officer will organise traffic data surveys (these collect traffic volumes and mean speeds) to provide a baseline, as recommended in Transport Scotland’s ‘20mph Speed Limits in Scotland – Implementation Guide’.
“The speed surveys are programmed for no earlier than April 2026 as it is the first neutral month available (a neutral month is defined as April, May, June, September or October).
“In consideration of the decision of the committee at its meeting held on December 19, 2024, officers are seeking approval of the implementation of speed restrictions via TTROs. The first area this will be introduced would be Helensburgh and Lomond.
“Post-implementation, the first six months will be used to examine any potential changes to traffic speeds and consider if the new speed limits are effective through correspondence, engagement and traffic data surveys.
“If considered successful, permanent traffic regulation orders would begin to replace the TTROs.”
