20英里/小時限速計劃是威勒爾議會的象徵性姿態

我故意在提議上使用引號，因為這封信據稱是理事會的諮詢活動。

A consultation exercise by Wirral Council on a proposed 20mph speed limit across the borough has been slammed as a “token gesture” by a local resident.

威勒爾市議會就該行政區限速 20 英里的提議進行的諮詢活動遭到當地居民的猛烈抨擊，稱其為“象徵性的姿態”。

Philip Jones, from Pensby, said the terms of the consultation were “restrictive” and that it was clear the council was “only paying lip service” to the feedback it received.

來自彭斯比的菲利普瓊斯表示，磋商的條款是“限制性的”，而且很明顯，該委員會對收到的反饋“只是口頭上的承諾”。

The consultation, which was launched last month, is seeking feedback on the council’s proposal to introduce a 20mph speed limit on all residential roads in the borough, except for a small number of main roads.

該諮詢於上個月啟動，正在徵求對市議會提案的反饋，該提案旨在對該行政區的所有住宅區道路實行 20 英里/小時的限速，少數主要道路除外。

The council said the move would form part of its contribution to a Liverpool City Region initiative to improve road safety and reduce accidents.

該委員會表示，此舉將成為其對利物浦城市地區改善道路安全和減少事故措施所做貢獻的一部分。

But Mr Jones said the council’s definition of road safety was “dubious” and that the real aim of the scheme was to cut Wirral’s contribution to the environment.

但瓊斯先生表示，該委員會對道路安全的定義是“可疑的”，該計劃的真正目的是減少威勒爾對環境的貢獻。

He added that the council’s suggestion that volunteers from the public could be involved in enforcing the speed limit was “disturbing” and that it showed the council was “not serious” about road safety.

他補充說，該委員會關於公眾志願者可以參與執行限速的建議“令人不安”，這表明該委員會對道路安全“並不認真”。

In a letter to the council’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr Liz Grey, Mr Jones said: “I have used inverted commas on proposed intentionally because this letter is supposedly a consultation exercise by the council.

瓊斯先生在寫給市議會公路內閣成員 Liz Grey 議員的信中表示：「我故意在提案中使用了引號，因為這封信據稱是市議會的諮詢活動。

“However, so restrictive are the terms of the consultation it is clear that it is a token gesture only.

「然而，磋商的條款如此嚴格，很明顯這只是一個象徵性的姿態。

“It will only consider a comment valid if it gives reasons relating to a specific area or road included in the proposals.

「只有給出與提案中特定區域或道路相關的理由的評論才會被視為有效。

“Thus, one cannot object to the scheme in total, as that would be ignored as being invalid. In any case, the likelihood is that the council will crack on with the roll-out whatever objections are raised.

「因此，人們不能完全反對該計劃，因為這將被視為無效而被忽略。無論如何，無論提出什麼反對意見，委員會都可能會繼續推行這項計畫。

“The answers to frequently asked questions contained in the letter make interesting reading.

「信中包含的常見問題的答案讀起來很有趣。

“Contrary to what most people think that it is about road safety, the letter makes it clear that it is Wirral’s contribution to a Liverpool City Region initiative under the environment umbrella, with a ‘vision’ to eliminate road accidents by 2040.

「與大多數人認為這與道路安全有關的想法相反，這封信明確表示，這是威勒爾在環境保護傘下對利物浦市地區倡議的貢獻，其『願景』是到 2040 年消除道路事故。

“The initial cost of this scheme was in the order of £350,000 and who knows how much more it will cost if it runs another 16 years to realise a vision that is totally absurd.

「這個計劃的初始​​成本約為 35 萬英鎊，誰知道如果再運行 16 年才能實現這個完全荒謬的願景，還要花多少錢。

“Accidents happen.

「事故時有發生。

“In dealing with the environment it admits that it has not been conclusively proven that it benefits the environment driving at 20mph.

「在處理環境方面，它承認尚未最終證明以 20 英里/小時的速度行駛對環境有益。

“It also admits the limit ‘could’ help a reduction in vehicle emissions.

「它也承認這項限制『可能』有助於減少車輛排放。

“As to enforcing the 20mph limit, the council says Merseyside Police will be responsible for enforcing it.

「至於執行 20 英里/小時的限速，議會表示默西塞德郡警方將負責執行。

“I very much doubt that the police management are happy at being given this responsibility.

「我非常懷疑警察管理層是否樂意承擔這項責任。

“Have the police got the resources needed?

「警方有必要的資源嗎？

“Have the police not got enough on their plate dealing with real crime?

「警察處理真正犯罪的事情還不夠多嗎？

“The council obviously knows that tasking the police with enforcing it is unrealistic because, and this is really disturbing, it wants volunteers from the public to be involved.

「委員會顯然知道，讓警方強制執行是不現實的，因為它希望公眾志工參與其中，這確實令人不安。

“It is asking people to volunteer to be ‘champions’ for the scheme and for individuals to be ‘a Safer Roads Watch’ person, to be trained in using a hand held speed camera.

“它要求人們自願成為該計劃的‘擁護者’，並要求個人成為‘更安全的道路守望者’，並接受使用手持測速相機的培訓。

“This means that this council is encouraging vigilante groups to be doing the work the police ought to be doing.

「這意味著該委員會正在鼓勵治安維持者團體做警察應該做的工作。

“Next month the Welsh government is reverting roads back from 20mph to the previous 30mph limit in the face of massive opposition from the general public.

「下個月，威爾斯政府不顧公眾的強烈反對，將道路限速從 20 英里/小時恢復到之前的 30 英里/小時。

“The Wirral public opposed to this scheme must protest in every way possible to make this council follow the Welsh government’s mature decision-making.”

“反對這一計劃的威勒爾公眾必須以一切可能的方式抗議，以使該委員會遵循威爾士政府成熟的決策。”