20mph zone would be 'a total nightmare'

'WE ARE BEING RESTRICTED FROM DRIVING SENSIBLY'

- WILLIAM TELFORD

A PLYMOUTH taxi driver says a proposed 20mph zone in Stoke and Stonehouse is too restrictive and a similar scheme in Laira has become a “nightmare” for professional drivers.

Jason Shopland, whose petition against the proposal has already attracted more than 1,300 signatures, stressed he is in favour of road safety but thinks other options need to be looked at by the council.

He said: “I think they need to put more thought into it.”

Mr Shopland even agreed to take Herald reporter William Telford on a drive through the proposed zone to show why he thinks enforcement by average speed cameras at 20mph is not necessary. Mr Shopland lives in PL5 but works in the Stoke and Stonehouse area and his business mostly involves long-distance taxi driving.