Birmingham City Council has unveiled proposals to introduce a series of new 20mph speed limits on roads surrounding a primary school in a bid to enhance safety for pupils and residents.
Safer Routes to School Scheme Launched
The local authority this week initiated a public consultation on its Chilcote Safer Route to School scheme for the Hall Green area. The plan aims to tackle longstanding road safety concerns around Chilcote School through a package of measures, funded by the Local Improvement Budget – Transportation and Highways Fund.
Alongside the reduced speed limits, the council is proposing several physical changes to the local highway network. These include the installation of bollards to prevent pavement parking, double yellow lines to restrict stopping, and pedestrian refuges to aid crossing. Speed cushions and additional school warning signs are also part of the proposed package to alert drivers and slow traffic.
Which Roads Are Affected?
The consultation specifically outlines plans to implement 20mph limits on the following roads in the vicinity of the school:
- Baldwins Lane (between Gracemere Crescent eastern junction and Primrose Lane).
- Barton Lodge Road (between Baldwins Lane and Scribers Lane).
- Scribers Lane (between Baldwins Lane and Barton Lodge Road).
- Hilton Avenue, Morris Field Croft, Chilcote Close and Barton Croft.
In a letter to residents, the council stated the scheme forms a key part of Birmingham’s broader transport strategy, which seeks to "meet the demands of the future by prioritising people over cars".
Part of a Wider Vision for Birmingham's Transport
The council's transport plan calls for "fundamental changes" to how people move around the city, citing the climate emergency and the need to make walking, cycling, and public transport the preferred choice. City transport boss, Coun Majid Mahmood, has previously emphasised that 20mph limits in residential and high-footfall areas reduce collisions and save lives.
This local initiative follows broader city-wide ambitions. Towards the end of last year, the council confirmed it was exploring more widespread 20mph limits, with approximately one third of Birmingham's roads already under such restrictions.
The approach has received backing from Mat MacDonald, the NHS doctor appointed as the UK's first road safety commissioner by West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker. He has argued that 20mph zones have a significant impact on reducing serious injuries and fatalities.
The public consultation is now live on the Birmingham Be Heard website and will remain open until 9 January 2026. The council has stated that all responses will be reviewed and, if the scheme proceeds, the new 20mph limits will be implemented via a formal Traffic Regulation Order.
