Cop fails to put the brakes on road plan

Published: 09 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

ONE of the Met’s top traffic cops has lost his bid to stop Wharfdale Road becoming a 20mph zone – despite insisting the rule is not legally enforceable.

Chief inspector Graham Horwood attended Tuesday’s Town Hall executive meeting to personally object to the council’s proposal to restrict speed on the King’s Cross road.

But Labour’s cabinet dismissed his pleas and agreed to include Wharfdale in their programme of imposing 20mph zones on residential roads. 

The £1.5million scheme, which does not cover main roads, was championed by former Green councillor Katie Dawson and was agreed by Islington Council in 2007. The West Area committee requested Wharfdale Road be include in September last year.

Chief Insp Horwood said officers could not legally force drivers to slow down from 30mph, warning that introducing the slower limit could undermine prosecutions.

He said Association of Chief Police Officers’ guidelines say there should be no enforcement of speed restrictions within 200 metres of a change in the limit, adding: “With a length of no more than 250m, this means Wharfdale Road cannot be enforced.”

He warned: “Any serious or fatal collision would have a significantly reduced chance of prosecution as the limit will not meet the required conditions.”

Environment chief Cllr Paul Smith’s own report admits: “As the police have made a formal objection to the inclusion of this road, no enforcement of the speed limit will be carried out should Wharfdale Road be included within the scheme.”

It goes on to say there have been two “slight” accidents on the road in the past three years, but that neither are recorded as being speed-related.

In his report calling on fellow councillors to approve the scheme, Cllr Smith said: “In reaching its decision the executive should note that the inclusion of Wharfdale Road is opposed by the Metropolitan Police. I have considered their position and the advice of council officers who concur with the police. I have carefully considered the advice given but rejected it. I have balanced this view with the view of the west area committee and the feelings of local residents and the overall intent of the scheme to reduce speed.”

One council officer warned that because the road came under the jurisdiction of Transport for London, TfL could revoke the 20mph powers at any time.

Former council leader Terry Stacy said Cllr Smith had neglected a list of roads he believes have a more urgent need, including Junction Road, Hornsey Rise, Highbury Park, Highbury Grove and Blackstock Road.

Cllr Stacy, who is “calling in” the decision, to be considered by the scrutiny committee, said: “Wharfdale Road has private housing, luxury apartments and a pub. Blackstock Road has four schools, shops and residents have petitioned for the limit to be reduced. What was the criteria for including this road?”