Eco-towns to be slowed down to 15mph

There was a clear emphasis on encouraging the use of public transport and an initiative was revealed to ensure that no home in an eco-town was built any farther than 400 metres from a bus or tram stop.

Those who are using cars will be doing so as a part of car-sharing schemes, designed to dramatically reduce the need for car ownership.

Government sources have said that the new eco-town centres are to be car-free, with the proposed 15mph speed limit being enforced on the “key roads” that lead into them.

"A rigorous selection process has meant only the very best proposals have made it through," said Caroline Flint, the minister for housing and planning. "We have a unique opportunity to deliver a programme which will genuinely revolutionise the way people live."

The minister, who wants to see the towns designed around pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, is focusing on the proposal of the 10, soon to be confirmed, eco-towns as a real opportunity for widespread change rather than just a creation of 10 small eco-friendly pockets for an environmentally conscious minority.
"These developments will be exemplars for the rest of the world, not just the rest of the country. It's critical that we get it right - and I make no apology for setting the bar as high as possible,” she explained.
The eco-friendly development scheme has come under some criticism, oddly enough, from environmental protesters.

The protesters believe that the initiative is focusing far too narrowly on carbon emissions without adequate consideration for other ecological issues such as the impact of the ‘eco-developments’ on the wildlife.

Further criticism came from Nigel Humphries, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, who sees the scheme, and in particular the 15mph speed limit, as another unjustifiable dig at British motorists.

“It’s one more step towards bringing back a 4mph speed limit and a man with a red flag walking in front of cars. Like much of the Government’s policies, this would be the first step to a nationwide scheme,” he said.

“It shows how successful their green agenda is that they have to bully drivers into acting on it. If they really wanted to reduce carbon emissions they would raise the speed limit to 45mph where cars are most fuel efficient.”

The 10 proposed eco-towns are expected to be completed by 2020 with the first five thought to be finished as early as 2016.

All of the new dwellings will be linked to larger towns and cities and will have populations of around 5,000 to 20,000.