North Yorkshire Council

Scarborough and Whitby Area Committee

28 November 2025

Receipt of petition urging North Yorkshire Council to reduce the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on New Bridge, Whitby

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To advise of a petition containing more than 500 signatures.

1.2 To ask the Area Committee to consider a response.

2.0 THE PETITION

2.1 A paper petition has been received by North Yorkshire Council. The total number of signatories on the petition is 516. This means that in accordance with the petitions scheme, the petition is referred to the next meeting of the relevant area committee for consideration.

2.2 The petition reads as follows:

Petition – reduction of the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on New Bridge, Whitby

New Bridge in Whitby currently has a 40mph speed limit from the traffic lights at Prospect Hill to the end of the bridge. The entrance to Whitby School (Airy Hill site) for Year 7 and 8 is situated on this section of road. We are concerned about the safety of students and families who have to walk along the bridge to access their school and the Eastside.

2.3 Link to petition

3.0 THE COUNCIL’S ARRANGEMENTS FOR RECEIVING AND RESPONDING TO PETITIONS

3.1 The key features of the council’s arrangements for receiving and debating petitions, as published on the council’s website, are as follows:

· Receipt of the petition is published on the council’s website (which has been done in the case of this petition).

· If a petition contains 500 or more signatures (but less than 30,775 signatories), it will be scheduled for debate at the next meeting of the appropriate area committee.

· The petition organiser is offered the opportunity to speak for five minutes at the area committee meeting to present their petition. Subsequently, at the meeting, the petition will be discussed by councillors for a maximum of 15 minutes and a decision will be made on how to respond to the petition.

· Possible responses by the council to petitions, as shown on the website, are:

(a) to take the action the petition requests if appropriate to so and they are able to do so

under delegated powers;

(b) not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate;

(d) where the issue is one on which the Executive is required to make the final decision, the Area Committee will decide whether to make recommendations to inform that decision.

· The petition organiser will receive written confirmation of the decision and the decision will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, published on our website

3.2 The petition organiser, Elizabeth Mulheran has confirmed that she is available to attend this meeting to present her petition.

4.0 HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICERS’ COMMENTS REGARDING THE PETITION

4.1 The Local Area Manager has committed to carrying out a new speed survey once the traffic signals at Spital Bridge are operational. The findings from this survey will inform a review of the posted speed limit over New Bridge as part of the countywide assessment. The signals are expected to be functioning by early December, which means the speed survey could take place in the New Year. The subsequent speed limit assessment is likely to follow shortly thereafter.

5.0

RECOMMENDATION

i) That the Committee notes the petition and considers a response.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:

North Yorkshire Council’s petitions information

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

County Hall

Northallerton

Report Author – St John Harris, Principal Democratic Services Officer

Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.