Faulty equipment delays introduction of 20mph speed limits at schools

Efforts to introduce 20mph speed limits on roads near  Shetland schools by the end of the year are being hampered by faulty equipment.

Part-time signs which flash up the lower limit electronically as cars approach them have had to be sent back to the manufacturer to have problems inspected.

The faults have caused delays in introducing the speed limit at Sandwick, Scalloway and Mid Yell Junior High Schools, as well as Mossbank and Dunrossness Primary chools.

Earlier this year members of Shetland Islands Council’s infrastructure committee agreed a programme to provide the lowered speed limits should be accelerated so that it could be completed by the end of 2009.

However, a report before councillors at Tuesday’s infrastructure meeting states although most of the work will be completed by the end of December, some will spill over into 2010.

All the work is still expected to be done during the current financial year, the exception being at Lunnasting, where the speed limit has been postponed for up to a year in order for the work to be carried out in conjunction with other road improvements. The speed limits have been deemed unnecessary for Fair Isle, Foula, Papa Stour and Skerries.

The use of 20mph speed limits around schools is standard practice nationwide. Some schools have the limits installed permanently, usually because traffic speeds in the area are almost that low already. However, part-time systems using electronic displays are suitable in other locations.