The chair of Michael Commissioners says the authority was not consulted by the DoI over plans to introduce more 20mph speed limits.
Manx.News has informally spoken to members of other local authorities who said they had not been formally consulted over the plans either with several saying they plan to contact the DoI this week.
This is the second time in as many weeks that the DoI has been criticised over a lack of engagement with local authorities following the issue around reforms to what authorities will be responsible for and possible fines.
Letter
In an open letter posted on Facebook by chair Duncan Livingstone, the board said that the move comes despite that “the current speed limits are not enforced (or extremely rarely!)” and asking “what is the point of wasting Government money on this scheme?”
The letter says: “The Board is concerned that no consultation has taken place about this proposal and would request that the following points be addressed.
1. When is consultation with the Local Authority going to take place in regard to these plans?
2. What evidence has been used to justify the expense of making these changes, and when is this evidence going to be supplied to the Local Authority?
3. Given that the current speed limits are not enforced (or extremely rarely!) what is the point of wasting Government money on this scheme.
“MDC fully supports having 20mph speed limits in the area of schools, and the variable speed limit in Kirk Michael and numerous other school sites work extremely well, however implementing 20 mph limits in other areas without local consultation seems both a potential misuse of Government funds and also heavy handed.
:MDC obviously cannot speak to what other areas want, but feel that having this plan imposed without any consultation is ill considered.”
Disingenuous
Mr Livingstone also shared his own comment on the post, which he said he has sent to DoI Minster Dr Michelle Haywood suggesting that her department’s officers have been “disingenuous”.
A former traffic officer and collision investigator, Mr Livingstone said that he doubts the new speed measures will be followed if the public don’t see the sense in them.
You can see the full post here:
Petitions
Two rival petitions, one in favour and one against the rollout of extra speed limits, with the against petition attracting significantly more signatures, in part due to the government acting without prior consultation.
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