With new rules on setting road speed limits set in place, Hastings District Council can now address public requests for speed limit changes for some of the district’s roads.

Public consultation on new speeds for six roads and the setting of a speed limit for one new road, starts tomorrow [February 1].

The roads, their current speed limits and proposed speed limits are:

The new speeds have been requested by residents with each application considered against the new NZ Transport Authority road speed setting rules, the layout of the roads, and other risk factors.

The main reasons for the requests for lower speeds have been increasing number of homes in the areas, and therefore driveways and traffic, or safety risks related to things like road layout.

As part of the consultation on Council’s Speed Limits Bylaw there is also a section which addresses anomalies, particularly around the placement of speed limit signs in relation to the gazetted positions.

Council’s works and services committee chairman Kevin Watkins said Council wanted to hear people’s views on the proposed changes. Development in some of the areas had led to growing traffic volumes and more manoeuvres in and out of driveways; while on other roads, layout and roadside obstacles were factors. “We are keen to hear as many views as possible from residents and business owners who access their properties off the roads and road users. Now that the NZTA has put these new rules in place, it is an opportune time to consider speeds on some of our roads, particularly where issues have been raised by residents,” he said.

Consultation on the changes is open for five weeks, from February 1 to noon on March 9.

From February 1 the proposal document will be available from reception at Hastings District Council, the district’s

libraries in Hastings, Flaxmere and Havelock North, or online at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz.

Submissions, marked Speed Bylaw, can be lodged online: www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz, mailed to Hastings District Council, Private Bag 9002, Hastings 4156, or delivered to Hastings District Council offices at 207 Lyndon Rd East, Hastings.

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