Friday April 4th 2025
New 20 mph road signs have been appearing across Midlothian with the number obscured with washable black paint.
Written by Midlothian View Editor, Phil Bowen
The Midlothian Council Cabinet meeting on the 20th May will consider the report to introduce 20 mph limits on all Midlothian roads.
The public were able to comment on the legal orders as part of a consultation in February. The report which will be presented to the Cabinet meeting in May will report on the objections to the plan. The Cabinet will then be asked to approve the report before the 20 mph rollout commences.
In May 2023 councillors backed plans to introduce 20mph speed limits across nine out of ten streets currently under a 30 mph restriction. A revised review of roads across the county which had identified 850 where the new restriction could be brought in was approved.
It will mean just 70 streets across the county retain their current 30 mph limit and it will see some rural communities undergo substantial traffic calming measures to ensure vehicles can no longer speed through them.
In February councillors were told ward maps produced to show the impact had been revised following input from elected members and appear to show even more streets in blue – indicating they will have the new 20 mph restriction on them.
Council officers said the cost of revising the streets signage and lines was estimated at £275,000.
Councillors have previously unanimously approved the work to implement proposed 20mph and 30mph speed limits across Midlothian which gave council officers the go ahead to begin the statutory process to introduce the new speed limits and traffic calming measures.
Across the county new 20 mph road signs have been appearing but with black paint over them so the the speed limit is not visible. Once the rollout has been approved then the washable paint will be removed and the new speed limits will come into force.
You can read the report to be presented to council in May 2023 HERE and you can read the external consultants ‘Midlothian 20mph Speed Limit Review’ containing maps of proposed speed limits HERE.
The roads below are the responsibility of Transport Scotland and so unaffected by the council’s decision.
– A68: from A720 City of Edinburgh Bypass to Scottish Borders Council boundary
– A702: from Edinburgh City boundary to Scottish Borders Council boundary
– A720: from Edinburgh City Bypass including Sheriffhall Roundabout
