20mph schemes are being rolled out in Cambridgeshire to help improve road safety and reduce pollution.
The 20mph areas being installed, and in some cases completed, are Stilton, Godmanchester, St Neots, Woodhurst, Somersham, Great Gransden, Toft, Oakington, Barton, Hauxton, Melbourn, Sawston and Duxford. The work involves installing signs, lines and markings and all schemes will be in place and completed by the end of July.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee, was joined by local councillors and Melbourn Parish Council this week to see their 20mph zone completed and in action.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Speed kills. Studies have shown even a 1mph drop in speed reduces collisions by 6%. Reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph can cut pollution by 30% and reduce the chance of a severe or fatal injury in the event of a collision by a staggering 60%. This is why it’s important we continue to create more 20mph areas.
“I was pleased to see one of last year’s applications in place in Melbourn and see the residents benefitting from cleaner air and safer travel, both of which are a priority for the Joint Administration.”
Cambridgeshire County Council recently put in place a new process for communities to access additional funding to install more 20mph zones or limits. This year’s schemes will be going to committee later in the autumn.
Improving road safety through 20mph schemes is a priority of the council’s Joint Administration which has highlighted several benefits from the programme, including safer streets which allow residents to feel safe when walking or cycling and reduced noise and pollution.
Another area benefitting from a new 20mph zone is Oakington.
Oakington & Westwick Parish Council said: “We’ve suffered with ongoing speeding issues in our village and following a successful funding application, a 20MPH zone covering most of Oakington was implemented combined with traffic calming features. We have noticed speeds have dropped, there are still drivers who speed, but the high number who drive at 20MPH are clearly having a positive impact on reducing speeds overall and consequently making the roads and footways safer for all users. From Oakington & Westwick Parish Council’s perspective, the scheme has been highly successful.”
Overall, 13 areas have seen 20mph zones created and installed more quickly this year thanks to the council’s Highways and Transport Committee agreeing to speed up the process and identifying funding. In addition to the £400,000 for this process (until 2025), a further £800,000 has been secured in partnership with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, for area-based schemes, across the county.
A 20mph limit is prioritised against the following criteria:
- evidence of traffic incidents or potential dangers within an existing 30/40mph zone
- vulnerable road users
- visible homes, shops and businesses
- a school or a school route
- a cycling route
- an area that would benefit from more active travel such as cycling and walking.
Either a 20mph limit or a 20mph zone will be installed depending on the specific location. A 20mph limit typically covers individual or a small number of streets and requires signs only, whereas 20mph zones typically cover larger areas and require both signs and markings.
To find out more about 20mph schemes, and to submit an application, visit: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/20mph-funding
The council’s commitment to improving road safety was further demonstrated last October when it approved a motion to put a 20mph speed limit on any new residential roads being planned in Cambridgeshire.
