TO balance the budget for 2012/13, City of York Council made reductions in social services, causing hardship and dismay to many, near halving road and footpath maintenance, stopping gulley and drain cleaning for residential areas and numerous others, plus increasing the council tax.

These were justified by referring to the Government’s reduced grants to councils due to the country’s debt.

Now much money allegedly saved will be negated by the £800,000 to be squandered on a 20mph scheme for the west of York. There is no evidence, apart from it seems to be popular idea, that roads will be much safer. Very few if any actual statistics are available on the benefits to be achieved, although those in favour will have speculative figures.

The 20mph restrictions now in place seem to be regularly exceeded; reports of motorists exceeding 20mph limits are rare. How will this scheme be policed; are lucrative fines envisaged?

A lengthy section at 20mph will cost motorists extra petrol and create more pollution and the congestion that can be caused by slower moving traffic.

Not forgetting the “unintended consequences”.

J Beisly, Osprey Close, York.