Tuesday January 20th 2026
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Midlothian Council could turn some 20mph streets back to their original speed limit a year after introducing the policy on hundreds of streets.
The local authority has introduced the lower speed on 800 streets across the county and is considering reducing it on some 60 mph and 40 mph roads.
A meeting of the council’s SNP administration cabinet on Tuesday approved a review of the new limits already in place with officers expecting a handful of roads could be turned back to 30mph roads.
In a report to cabinet they said speed monitors in place following the lowering of the limit had found a decrease in speed but a review needed to look at areas where it was not working.
They said three options were available – no change in areas where the speed limit was working, introducing additional control measures in areas with poor compliance which puts people at risk and abandoning the 20mph speed limit on roads with poor compliance and or causing motorists frustration.
It said: “Road Services anticipates between 1-2% of the implemented changes may need revision”.
Councillor Dianne Alexander supported the review which she said could see some of the arterial roads “returned to the 30 miles an hour limit”.
She said: “I think for most residential streets and arterial roads which run through our towns 20mph is the correct call. It is all about children walking to school and people of all walking abilities crossing the road and making our streets safer and feel calmer.
“But I also support the reviewing of a small number of roads where returning to 30 miles an hour is the sensible choice. This is a common sense Midlothian approach – keep what is working, fix what isn’t and do it street by street.”
Council leader Kelly Parry agreed with her cabinet colleague adding:
“I think this is a good example of us being a listening council. I think even people who were disgruntled by a road here and there were in general quite positive about 20mph zones particularly around schools etc.”
Cabinet agreed officers should carry out the review and introduce amendment as required as well as reviewing speed limits on arterial link routes between communities.
The report said: “These works will see some limits at 60’s and 40’s reduced to promote safety. Work on this has already begun on both Millerhill Road and Roslin Glen.”
You can read the report presented to the Midlothian Council Cabinet meeting HERE and watch the discussion at the meeting below.
