Marlyn Glen MSP recently contacted me in my capacity as Planning & Transport Convener of the City Council to ask about the extent of provision of 20 mph zones around schools in Dundee, give the reports to the British Medical Association's annual conference saying that more 20 mph speed limits on routes near schools help tackle the problem of obesity amongst school children as well as making the streets safer for them.
Following discussion with Council officers, my response is as follows:
“During 2004 Dundee City Council began a programme of introducing part-time 20mph speed limits on roads surrounding its schools. These part-time limits are legally enforceable and operate at the beginning and end of the school day and also over the lunchtime period. Currently 47 of the Council's 49 schools have part-time 20mph speed limits operating in this manner. The two schools that are yet to be covered are Braeview Academy and St Johns High School and this has been caused by difficulties in providing the required power supply to the signs. City Council officers advise me that they are confident that this will be resolved within the next month so that all Council schools will be covered by the 20mph part-time speed limits.
“In addition to the Council schools, work is currently on-going with the High School of Dundee regarding 20mph part-time speed limits and this is also expected to be completed within the next month.
“Steps have also been taken to ensure that any new schools opening in Dundee through the PPP initiative will also have part-time 20mph speed limits in place from their first day of opening.
“In addition to 20mph speed limits at schools further work has been undertaken in partnership between the Education and Planning & Transportation Departments to develop School Travel Plans. A seconded post was provided for a two year period within the Education Department to develop an exemplar School Travel Plan pack as part of the Health Promoting Schools initiative. An exemplar pack has been issued to all schools in Dundee with the Head Teacher of each school responsible for implementing their School Travel Plan. These School Travel Plans aim to encourage pupils to travel to school in a more sustainable and healthy manner by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport in favour of car journeys.
“Dundee City Council also works in partnership with Tayside Police and provides resources and professional officer input to assist Tayside Police's Road Safety Officers who regularly take the road safety message into the classroom.
“I trust this information assures you that Dundee City Council has tackled the need for 20mph speed limits at Schools and continues to develop travel initiatives to help improve the health of our school pupils.”
“In addition to the Council schools, work is currently on-going with the High School of Dundee regarding 20mph part-time speed limits and this is also expected to be completed within the next month.
“Steps have also been taken to ensure that any new schools opening in Dundee through the PPP initiative will also have part-time 20mph speed limits in place from their first day of opening.
“In addition to 20mph speed limits at schools further work has been undertaken in partnership between the Education and Planning & Transportation Departments to develop School Travel Plans. A seconded post was provided for a two year period within the Education Department to develop an exemplar School Travel Plan pack as part of the Health Promoting Schools initiative. An exemplar pack has been issued to all schools in Dundee with the Head Teacher of each school responsible for implementing their School Travel Plan. These School Travel Plans aim to encourage pupils to travel to school in a more sustainable and healthy manner by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport in favour of car journeys.
“Dundee City Council also works in partnership with Tayside Police and provides resources and professional officer input to assist Tayside Police's Road Safety Officers who regularly take the road safety message into the classroom.
“I trust this information assures you that Dundee City Council has tackled the need for 20mph speed limits at Schools and continues to develop travel initiatives to help improve the health of our school pupils.”