Green light for 20mph zones roll-out
SPEED limits will be reduced to 20mph in more than 1,000 Inverclyde streets to improve road safety.
At a special full council meeting yesterday, Thursday 4 September 2025, councillors agreed to reduce the existing 30mph limit in 1,021 locations over the next two years.
The proposed move ties in with the Scottish Government’s national strategy to introduce 20mph zones in appropriate roads in built up areas.
Funding of £478,000 has been made available by government agency Transport Scotland towards the initial setup costs.
The proposals were originally presented to the environment and regeneration committee in June and agreed in principle but that the proposals should be referred to full council for a final decision.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s vice-convener of environment and regeneration, said: “The introduction of 20mph speed limits in our towns and villages is not about slowing traffic but about saving lives, which I’m sure everyone will agree is of utmost importance.
“A huge amount of work has gone into analysing roads throughout Inverclyde and identifying locations which would benefit from a speed reduction in consultation with local and national partners.
“We already have 20mph zones in several locations, including in our town and village centres and near schools, and they have proven effective in not just reducing speed and minimising accidents but changing driver behaviour for the better.
“This roll-out of 20mph limits to other areas would be a natural extension of that and a positive step forward in improving road safety across Inverclyde."
The proposed routes have been developed by council officers in consultation with Transport Scotland, police, and other local and national partners.
It was agreed that A and B roads should remain at 30mph, unless they pass a school or directly through a town centre, to aid movement of traffic on these arterial routes.
Research shows that the speed of a vehicle directly influences the risk of a collision as well as the severity of injuries sustained.
Statistically, the average person is seven times more likely to succumb to fatal injuries if they are in a collision with a vehicle at 30 mph than they are at 20 mph.
More information can be found in the committee papers on the Inverclyde Council website and the meeting is available to watch on the Inverclyde Council YouTube channel.