House of Commons · Adjournment Debate
30 June 2025 · 15 other contributors
Opened by Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Sam Rushworth raised concerns about road safety powers parish and town councils 2025-06-30 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Before I begin my speech, let me pay my respects to my constituent Curtis Davies... People there have been asking for traffic enforcement measures. In the village of Hamsterley in my constituency, the traffic through to Hamsterley forest on the weekend is often a cause of concern...
I pay tribute to Roydon and Hastingwood speed watch for the work it does. One issue I come across when people in my constituency talk to me about road safety is that when they ask for changes to be made, the county council says, “There have been no fatalities; there have been no accidents on this stretch of road.”
Highway safety is something that I have been working on for a number of years... Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the biggest barriers to road improvements in County Durham is the arbitrary and rather baffling decisions of County Durham council highways department?
I thank my hon. Friend for inviting an intervention... Does my hon. Friend agree it is important that we consider whether councils that already have the right to set speed limits should also have the power to enforce them?
I commend the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate... Does he agree that joined-up thinking between branches of Government is essential to improve safety and ensure that people power always wins?
Supports the lead MP's concerns about road safety and advocates for local parish councils to have more power in decision-making regarding traffic safety measures.
Agrees with the need for a crossing in Nansledan due to the strategic road's impact on local residents' ability to safely cross roads.
Supports the call for a new national road safety strategy and emphasises the importance of listening to local voices in drawing up such strategies.
Agrees that local knowledge goes beyond reported accidents, highlighting Griffydam's struggles for years despite residents' efforts.
Highlights the role of residents’ associations in urban areas and calls on the Minister to consider their views alongside those of parish councils.
Supports the call for speed limits set by local parish councils, citing concerns with a busy bridge used by pupils at Airy Hill School.
Extends the debate to include parking enforcement as part of road safety issues and encourages creative solutions from local parish councils.
Supports the need for local control over speed limits.
Raises concerns about road safety in her constituency and supports giving more power to local councils.
Highlights the importance of listening to parish and town councils for road safety improvements.
The Member for Amber Valley supported the lead MP’s concerns about road safety in residential areas and emphasised the importance of community involvement through initiatives like parish councils and community speedwatch schemes.
Government Response
No ministerial response provided in the given text. The Minister acknowledges the concerns raised about road safety in various constituencies and emphasises the importance of collaboration between central government, local authorities, and communities to address these issues. While the powers granted under the Road Traffic Regulation Act are currently limited to local councils, the Government is committed to exploring ways to empower parish and town councils to play a greater role in road safety management through strengthened consultative or even enforceable statutory powers, subject to thorough consultation and assessment of impacts on road users. The Minister encourages constituents to continue engaging with their local authorities and communities to push for necessary changes and improvements. I congratulate Sam Rushworth on securing this debate. No one should be killed or injured on our roads and improving road safety is a priority. Local authorities have a duty to take steps to reduce collisions; local knowledge is crucial in identifying areas of highest risk. We are committed to devolving powers but not further than county council level. Parish councils can still play an important role by engaging with local partners, including residents’ associations. For speed reduction measures, it's essential that decisions on lowering limits and enforcing them through police action are made in partnership with local authorities and community groups. I urge Sam Rushworth to discuss his concerns regarding Durham County Council as a priority. The Minister for Transport acknowledged the issue raised by local authorities concerning budget cuts and debt affecting their ability to implement safety measures. They stated that the government is working to update the “Manual for Streets” guidance to ensure it remains relevant and supports sustainable, healthy communities. The minister emphasised that while local authorities have the freedom to set speed limits based on local knowledge and community support, the government fully backs schemes aimed at improving road safety. Updated guidance was issued in March 2024 reminding councils to reserve lower speed limits for appropriate locations such as outside schools. The minister also mentioned the safe system approach to road safety which aims to reduce fatalities resulting from mistakes made by careful drivers. They highlighted that collisions at high speeds are more likely to have tragic outcomes, supporting the argument for reducing speed limits in specific circumstances. The Department is committed to supporting local authorities with their efforts and welcomed the valuable work done by parish and town councils through community speedwatch schemes. The minister concluded by emphasising that road safety cannot be the sole responsibility of central or local government; all road users must comply with traffic laws for their own safety and that of others. The hierarchy of road users, as outlined in the highway code, aims to ensure a respectful culture benefiting all users while also stressing the legal duty of all road users to obey the law.