Trevor Bevins, Local Democracy Reporter.
A claim that the voting on Dorchester’s proposed 20mph town speed limit might have been ‘rigged’ has been denied.
Several town councillors say they were surprised that more than 62 per cent of the votes went against the blanket 20mph limit – after hearing most people at public consultation events saying they were in favour.
There had been a social media call during the six week consultation process for those against the idea to make sure they voted – a plea which originally came from a taxi driver in the town.
Poundbury Cllr William Gibbons told a town planning and environment meeting on Monday evening that many had expressed disbelief at the results.
“It raises the question of whether some people might have put in more than one response,” he said.
Cllr Robin Potter said he was also surprised: “During the person to person consultation almost all were in favour,” he said.
Town clerk Charmaine Denny said she had no evidence of multiple voting and defended the decision to allow more than 500 people outside the DT1 area to have their votes counted, which had been questioned by Cllr Fiona Kent-Ledger.
The town clerk said that 3,800 replies to the consultation, online and in physical forms, had been “an amazing response, demonstrating just how strongly people feel.”
She said that more than 2,000 had taken the time to add comments to their vote with many who were against an overall 20mph speed limit for the town saying they would support a lower limit outside schools and some other areas where there are problems with speeding traffic.
“Clearly there is a genuine concern about how safe people feel about using our roads and crossing our streets,” she added.
Cllr Sue Biles, who headed a small group looking at the issues, said that while the overall 20mph idea would now be dropped her committee would look at all the suggestions made and come up with a list of areas for further consultation on a lower speed limit.
Schools will be included in that list along with areas such as Lubbecke Way where residents have previously petitioned for a lower limit. Other suggestions made at the meeting include Herringston Road, South Court Road and London Road.
Cllr David Leaper told the meeting that his opinion had changed during the consultation and he had come around to supporting a wider 20mph limit after looking at the evidence from other areas where it had been introduced.
“I’m disappointed, but we should be proud of ourselves that so many people did comment… I think, in time, attitudes will change,” he said.
